University of Wisconsin - Extension

MADISON, Wis.-Recent predictions from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) warn that fuel prices are likely to rise substantially this year. The predictions contained in an online publication entitled "Short Term Energy Outlook - October 2002" suggest that heating oil prices could climb as much as 45 percent in the coming months. If you haven't noticed, prices of gasoline have already risen sharply. Tight international oil markets have caused prices for heating oil to rise sharply since last winter. Factors such as the volatile situation in the Middle East are likely to keep prices up through the current heating season. Natural gas and propane prices are also climbing with DOE estimating that natural gas prices will be an average of 19 percent higher this season. The rise in propane is likely to be roughly 10 percent.

Last year's mild weather resulted in lower than expected heating costs. The National Weather Service at this point is predicting we may have another mild winter. However, if we have a normal or colder than normal winter, demand may drive prices still higher and make the overall effect on your household heating bills even worse, says University of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension housing specialist John Merrill.

"DOE does point out that inventories are high," Merrill says, "so there should not be a shortage such as there was in 2000 when inventories were at a very low level."

According to figures from a study by the Energy Center of Wisconsin, the typical Wisconsin household with a natural gas furnace spent roughly $612 for natural gas last winter. A 19 percent increase will mean another $116 for the season. There are things you can do to reduce the impact of these increases, Merrill advises.

First, be sure your heating system has been checked by a heating technician so it is operating as efficiently as possible.

"If you don't already check your furnace filters," says Merrill, "do that now. Dirty filters mean that less heat gets to your home from the furnace and so the furnace runs longer to keep the house warm."

Second, lower the thermostat setting. Every degree you drop the temperature drops your fuel use by at least one percent, according to Merrill. There are ways to do this so you don't have to shiver and feel uncomfortable. Setback thermostats are relatively inexpensive and can make setting back the temperature automatic. You can set it so that the temperate drops when the family leaves for work and comes up again before you come home so it is comfortable when you open the door. You can do the same thing at night. Many people like sleeping in a cool room. You can set the thermostat so that when you wake up the house is warm.

Seal leaks. Check for breezes around windows and doors. Most new doors have adjustable thresholds that can be raised or lowered with a screwdriver.

"If you can easily pull a piece of paper from under the door when it is closed you should probably raise the threshold a little," Merrill says. "Seeing light under the door when you approach the lighted house at night is another sign that you need to adjust the threshold."

For leaky windows, rope caulk can be applied to the joints where you feel breezes. Rope caulk is somewhat like modeling clay as it can be forced into cracks and removed in the spring without damaging woodwork. An alternative for windows is to apply special plastic film around the window and frame. The film is secured with double stick tape that comes with the window covering kit. Once installed, a hair dryer is used to shrink the film so that the view of outdoors is not obstructed. These window coverings are easily removed in the spring. If left on for several years, Merrill says, the tape may cause problems with the underlying finish when it is removed. Remove it in spring and it should create no problems.

If you really want to protect yourself from increasing energy bills this year and in the years to come, consider having a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR assessment. There is a cost for this assessment because it involves a trained Home Performance consultant spending a couple of hours with you in your home doing a number of tests and giving you a detailed report of findings and recommendations. According to Focus on Energy staff, homeowners who have their homes assessed and complete the recommended improvements, save an average $325 a year on their energy bills. To find out more about the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program, contact Focus on Energy at 1-800-762-7077 or on the Web at http://www.focusonenergy.com .