Save money and stay warm this winter with Entergy Texas

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The holidays are here, and while Southeast Texas celebrates, winter weather could drive up heating costs. However, staying warm and comfortable doesn’t have to come at the cost of high energy bills. By making a few simple changes around your home, you can improve its energy efficiency and keep costs down throughout the colder months.

Air leaks and inefficient heating can lead to an additional $400 in home energy costs each year. Rather than cranking up the thermostat as temperatures drop, try these affordable and easy fixes.

Prepare for cold weather

• Use solar energy: Open curtains on sunny windows during the day to naturally heat the home and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.
• Insulate drafty windows: Use plastic film or insulation kits to cover drafty windows and stop air leaks.
• Adjust the thermostat: Turn down your thermostat when you are asleep or out of the house to save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills.
• Maintain heating systems: Replace air filters, furnace and heat pumps regularly and schedule routine maintenance to keep your heating systems running efficiently.
• Reduce heat loss from the fireplace: Keep the fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning and check the seal on the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible.

By following these simple steps, you can stay warm and comfortable all winter long while keeping your energy bills under control.

Entergy Texas also offers free comprehensive residential energy audits and rebates to help reduce the upfront cost of installing energy-efficient equipment. Visit entergy.com/energyefficiency for more information.