Stay Warm This Winter and Save Money

Chilly temperatures often mean more demand for energy – but it doesn’t have to mean higher heating bills.

Customers typically use three to seven times more natural gas for space and water heating during the winter months. While natural gas is the most affordable way to heat homes, there are simple steps you can take to reduce heating costs.

Tips to reduce natural gas use and keep bills lower include:

• Set your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day, and to 55 degrees at night or when you are not at home. Lowering your thermostat three to five degrees can save up to 10 percent on heating costs.
• Install proper caulking and weather-stripping; this can save roughly 10 to 15 percent on heating and cooling costs.
• Wash clothes in cold water to save up to 10 percent on water heating costs.
• Clean or replace your furnace filters according to manufacturer recommendations.
• Have your air ducts tested for leaks. Leaky ducts can add up 10 to 30 percent in heating and cooling costs.
• Turn down the temperature on your water heater.
• Take shorter showers to reduce your natural gas use.
• Fix leaky faucets and pipes. Hot water leaks cause increased demand on the water heater, which increases natural gas use. One drop of water per second can waste 500 gallons of hot water per year.
• Limit use of non-essential natural gas appliances, such as spas and fireplaces.

Customers can monitor their energy use by signing up for My Account. You can use the Energy Management Tool on My Account to sign up for energy alerts via email or text  when your energy use or spending reaches a certain limit.

Visit SDG&E.com or click here for more ways to save energy and money.