Why Are Heating Bills Higher This Year?
Utility Price Increases – Not the Main Culprit
Every year our local utilities take price increases on gas and electric service. While this can have an impact, it is unlikely that the annual increase in cost from the utility is greater than the increase in efficiency from a newly replaced, energy efficient furnace, heat pump or gas fireplace. For example, the published rate increases for PSE that go into effect January 1, 2018, are expected to increase bills “an average of 1 cent per month for natural gas and 24 cents per month for residential electricity”, (PSE).
Heating Early and Often
It really comes down to how cold it is outside. In our industry, we measure the amount of time one needs to heat a home in a unit of measure called heating degree days (HDD). This is defined as the number of degrees that a day’s average temperature is below 65 degrees. So if the average temperature in a day is 55 degrees then that day would account for 10 degree days.
Looking at the last four years over the time period from Sept 1 through November 22nd, we added up all of those degrees below 65. Please see the graph at Weatherunderground.
2017 had a higher number of degree days, meaning that this fall was colder. In fact, 2017 was 14% below the four year average. Seattle homeowners were more likely to have the heat on earlier and more often this fall, and that led to generally higher utility bills. It might seem surprising that we can experience record warm summers and a below average cold fall, but that is the case. Our local temperatures have been seesawing more over the last few years.
Countering Cold Weather Impact on Heating Bills
Keep heating cost increases in check with these three easy steps:
✓ Utilize the smart features of your thermostat. Today’s smart thermostats are easier and less intimidating to program. EnergyStar® estimates a savings of up to 10% of heating costs if heat is lowered 7-10 degrees for 8 hours per day. Remotes for ductless heat pumps also have a variety of smart options.
✓ Set the energy efficient gas fireplace remote to the same constant temperature as the furnace. This allows the gas insert to work in tandem with the furnace, calling for heat when the room dips below the set point. The fireplace will provide amazing comfort to the rooms you are using, and reduce overall energy use of the home.
✓ While you can increase radiant heat from a gas fireplace by 30% by removing the glass barrier screen, we caution against doing this as the barrier screen is there to protect people and pets. If you do decide to do this, remove the screen when the gas fireplace has been cold for at least 4 hours.
✓ Consider a home energy audit to pinpoint and measure the heat lost from leaks and poor insulation. These often unseen issues drain warmth from your home, and more heat is used to compensate. A comprehensive audit is simply the best way to design a long term improvement game plan to lower heating costs.
Washington Energy Services installs top quality energy efficient products, including gas furnaces, fireplaces, smart thermostats and more. Are you ready to create a more energy efficient home? Contact us today.
Suggested Reading
- 2016
- AC
- AC Installation
- AC Units
- AFUE
- air conditioing
- air conditioner
- air conditioning
- air conditioning maintenance
- air conditioning service
- air conditioning tune-up
- air duct
- air duct cleaning
- air handlers
- air pollution
- Air Purification System
- air purifier
- Air Sealing
- angie's list
- award
- basement Finishing
- Bathroom remodel
- BBB
- BBB Accredited Business
- before and after
- Best air conditioner
- best filters
- best generator
- best locks
- best water heater
- best window install
- boilers
- bryant
- Bryant AC
- bryant furnace
- bryant heat pump
- christmas lights
- clean air
- clothes drive
- Clothes For Kids
- coat drive
- combi-boiler
- comfort
- community
- Construction
- contractor
- contractors
- Cooling
- Cooling equipment
- Coronavirus Protection
- custom
- daikin
- deals
- discounts
- DIY
- Donation
- Donations
- door hardware
- door installation
- door replacement
- Door Transformations
- doors
- drafty home
- drain cleaning
- Duct Cleaning
- Duct Cleaning Services
- ductless
- Ductless heat pump
- ductless heat pump. mini-split
- Ductless heat pumps
- ductless heating system
- ductless heating systems
- ductless installation
- Ducts
- durable
- earth day
- eco friendly
- EER
- election
- electrical inspection
- emergency
- energy
- energy conservation
- energy efficiency
- energy efficiency rebates
- energy efficient AC
- energy efficient air conditioner
- energy efficient home
- energy efficient hvac
- energy efficient HVAC Systems
- energy efficient windows
- energy myths
- energy saving
- energy saving home products
- energy star
- energy tax credit
- environmentally friendly
- exterior doors
- exterior siding
- fall
- fall weather
- fiber cement
- fiber cement siding
- fiberglass doors
- filter
- filter change
- financing options
- fireplace
- fireplace insert
- fireplace repair
- fireplace tune-up
- front door
- furnace
- furnace filters
- furnace install
- furnace maintenance
- furnace mileage
- furnace problems
- furnace replacement
- furnace service
- furnaces
- Garage door replacement
- gas fireplace
- gas fireplace inserts
- Gas Fireplace Makeover
- gas furnace
- generators
- going green
- good business practices
- green solutions
- Guardian Maintenance Club
- gutters
- heat
- heat pump
- heat pump installation
- heat pump maintenance
- heat pump vs ac
- Heat Pumps
- heat pumps maintenance
- heat wave
- Heating
- Heating and Cooling equipment
- heating and cooling systems
- Heating Brands
- Heating Control
- Heating equipment
- Heating System Tuneup
- heatwave
- HEPA filter
- history
- holiday
- home
- home buyer
- home energy
- home energy efficiency
- Home energy efficiency solutions
- home exterior
- home heating
- home improvement
- Home Improvement Rebates
- home improvement repair
- home inspection
- home maintenance
- home maintenance checklist
- home maintence
- home performance
- home protection
- home repair
- home safety
- home upgrade trends
- home upgrades
- home value
- homeowners
- honeywell
- hot water
- hot water heater
- houzz
- how to
- HVAC
- HVAC Contractor
- HVAC Contractors
- hvac system
- IAQ
- indoor air quality
- infographic
- install
- install furnace
- insulated composite siding
- insulation
- intellihot
- interior doors
- james hardie
- kids
- Kitchen face lift
- LED light
- LED lights
- light bulb
- light bulbs
- locks
- mailbag
- maintenance
- march
- membership
- mini-split
- modulating furnace
- money saving
- money savings
- navien
- new door installation
- new home
- New homeowner
- new siding installation
- new windows
- news
- pacific northwest weather
- patio doors
- pets
- plank siding
- plumbing
- plumbing inspection
- pnw
- power
- power outages
- precision tune up
- preventative
- Pro Tips
- Programmable Thermostat
- Programmable Thermostats
- propane
- PSE Award
- PSE Energy
- PUD
- Q & A
- rain
- Ratings
- rebates
- refund
- REME Halo
- Remodel
- remodeling hacks
- Replacing Heating System
- reputation
- Safe Home Insulation
- sale
- save energy
- Saving money
- scam
- scams
- seamless
- seamless gutters
- seattle
- Seattle Weather
- SEER
- service
- services
- shingle siding
- Siding
- Siding replacement
- sliding glass doors
- Smart Home
- Smart thermostat
- smoke
- snow
- Solar Attic Fan
- solar power
- Solar Powered Light Strand
- sound
- spring
- standby generators
- storm doors
- summer
- summer fires
- Summer heat
- Summer home
- super service 2016
- tank water heater
- Tank water heaters
- tankless tune ups
- tankless water heater
- tankless water heaters
- tax rebate
- thanksgiving
- Thermostat
- tips
- trends
- tune-up
- upgrade
- upgrade cooling
- upgrade heating
- utilities
- utility rebates
- veterans
- Washington Energy
- washington energy services
- water conservation
- Water Heater
- water heater installation
- water heater maintenance
- water heater repair
- water heaters
- water leak protection
- Wildfire Season
- wildfire smoke
- window
- window energy efficiency
- window install
- window maintence
- window remodel
- window repair
- window replacement
- windows
- winner
- winter
- zone heating
- Air Conditioning
- Air Purifiers
- Cooling
- Doors
- Ductless heat pump
- Environmental
- Fireplace
- Furnace
- Gas fireplace
- Generators
- Heat pump
- Heating
- Home improvement
- How to
- HVAC
- Indoor Air Quality
- Insulation
- News
- Plumbing
- Rebates
- Seattle
- Siding
- Smart Home
- Tank water heaters
- Tankless water heaters
- Tips to save money
- Uncategorized
- Wildfire Season
- Windows