Given the long warm fall we are finally seeing come to an end, it’s difficult to imagine that the Northeast is facing a chilling reality as we head into winter. However, according to an article in today’s Wall Street Journal Online, the cost of heating-oil is surging to record numbers and the result will be people who can’t afford to heat their homes and smaller oil dealers who have sold heating oil under fixed-price contracts could face bankruptcy.
Lawmakers across New England are scurrying to enact legislature that would help the neediest of people but what can we do ourselves?
For starters, make sure you have enough insulation in your attic and walls if possible.
Caulking drafty windows can also affect how much oil you need to heat your home.
Make sure your furnace is working properly and if you have one, give your wood-burning stove a good cleaning.
Don’t turn your thermostat up above the desired temperature. Or better yet, invest in a programmable thermostat.
Keep the curtains and blinds of any south facing windows open during the day to capture the sun’s warmth and closed at night to keep it.
Check out this page on About.com for more ideas on how you can save money on your home heating costs this winter.
Columbia County Current 