Spring has officially arrived! That means it’s time to start thinking about your spring cleaning. Whether you look forward to the task of deep cleaning your home or completely dread the thought of it, we’ve got you covered. Our checklist focuses mainly on appliances and items often overlooked.
By: Tim Sutherburg, Manager of Information Security at Dead River Company
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and our Manager of Information Security at Dead River Company, Tim Sutherburg, is sharing a few tips on how to protect yourself online.
As of July 1st, fuel companies throughout New England are switching to ultra-low sulfur heating oil. We’ve put together a list of common questions and answers to help customers understand this change.
Think of all the reasons you and your family love your home: conversations around the dinner table, game night in front of the fireplace, or curling up on the couch with your favorite blanket. When you include propane appliances throughout your home, you can give your family even more reasons to love your home. In addition to comfort and convenience, an all-propane home offers energy and cost savings, as well as efficiency and performance.
Click through the slideshow to learn all of the ways you can use propane in your home.
Gas Range & Oven
Propane-powered cooktops and ovens deliver instant heat and precise temperature control. Cooking times are typically faster with a gas range because gas flames apply heat directly to the pot or pan as opposed to electric which heats the surface first and then the pan.
Did you know?
You could save $80-$120 annually on energy costs compared to electric cooking appliances.
Propane Dryer
If you’re looking for high performance features like faster drying times, fewer wrinkles, less ironing, and energy savings, turn to a propane-powered dryer. Take advantage of steam drying and smartphone capabilities – control your dryer with just the tap of an app!
Did you know?
The average cost to operate a propane dryer is roughly $40-$80 per year compared to roughly $100 per year for an electric dryer.
Propane Fireplace
Cozy up to the comfort and ambiance of a propane fireplace without the hassles of a real fire. Propane fireplaces are environmentally friendly, convenient to use, and in the event of a power outage, will provide your family with heat and light.
Did you know?
A propane fireplace delivers 5-6 times the heating capacity of electric fireplaces. The average cost to operate is roughly $50-$150 per year depending on how often it’s used.
Propane Generator
Give your family greater comfort, security, and safety with a propane standby generator. You may not even know it’s working because it only takes about 10 seconds for the generator to automatically start when the power goes out.
Did you know?
An extended power outage costs a family an average of $1,250. This includes any damage to electronics and homes, spoiled food, eating at restaurants, and the potential for temporary relocation costs. Not to mention the added stress, dangers of cold weather, and loss of water (for those with a well).
Hot Water
Propane tankless water heaters deliver an endless supply of hot water. Imagine being able to take a shower, wash dishes, and do laundry all at the same time – all without ever worrying about running out of hot water.
Did you know?
Propane-powered tankless models only heat the water when it’s needed, meaning you can save more than $150 in annual energy costs compared to electric.
Central Heat
Propane is more than just energy-efficient – it delivers comfortable and consistent heat to keep your family warm on even the coldest days. For greater cost-savings, use a programmable thermostat to easily adjust the temperature based on whether you’re home or away.
Did you know?
Furnaces and boilers are often referred to as a central heating system. This is because the heat is generated in a central location and then distributed throughout the house.
If you’d like to learn more about upgrading your home to energy-efficient propane appliances, contact us to speak with one of our Residential Energy Advisors.
Are you going away for the holidays? Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a week-long vacation, there are a few things you can do to save energy (and lower your bills!) while you’re away. Scroll through the images for 6 tips to save energy while on vacation.
1. Turn down your thermostats.
Setting all of your home’s thermostats to 55 degrees ensures that your pipes won’t freeze but you’ll also save energy by not heating an empty house. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can program it to raise the temperature for the day you’ll be returning, or if you have a thermostat controlled by a smartphone app, you can adjust the temperature remotely.
2. Adjust your water heater.
If you don’t have a tankless model, your water heater will continue to heat the water in your tank. Use the “vacation” mode if your model has one, or lower the temperature setting to minimize the standby heat loss. Having readily available hot water accounts for up to 20% of energy used in your home.
3. Unplug electronic devices and appliances.
Think items like your coffee maker, toaster, TV’s, DVD players, computers, and game consoles. These items are energy vampires- they drain energy when plugged in even if they’re not in use.
4. Lower the blinds or close the curtains.
Closing the blinds or curtains will help keep the heat inside your home and prevent the cold drafts from getting in.
5. Install timers on exterior lights and switch to LED lightbulbs.
Rather than leaving your lights on the entire time you’re away for security purposes, conserve energy by setting the timer to turn the lights on for a few hours each night. Additionally, switching to energy-efficient LED lightbulbs will mean fewer replacements and cost savings over time as they typically last longer.
6. Consider emptying your refrigerator and unplugging it.
Refrigerators are one of the biggest energy users in your home. If you’ll be gone less than a week or two and have emptied your fridge, conserve energy by adjusting the temperature to warmer settings. Around 38-40 degrees for the refrigerator and 3-5 degrees for the freezer. If you’ll be gone more than two weeks, consider emptying your refrigerator and unplugging it.
These are just a few simple steps you can take to reduce your energy bill while you’re on vacation. While some of them may seem minimal, it does make a difference. To learn more about energy savings, visit our website or contact us.
