Bundle Up Your Budget: Save Money and Energy this Winter

Access to affordable heating is necessary as temperatures drop. Energy bills can be too expensive for some, even after efficiency upgrades. There are several programs to help you afford your bills.

Through Xcel, qualified customers can spread out their bills over time, get help paying for efficiency improvements and receive discounts. Visit Xcel Energy’s website for more information on these tools.

There are also programs that help income-qualified families, seniors and individuals pay a portion of home heating costs through Energy Outreach Colorado’s bill payment assistance. Learn more on Energy Outreach Colorado’s website.

Efficiency upgrades save money and curb your energy use. They also make your home cozier on cold nights.

Here are some simple steps to cut back:

• Use a programmable thermostat: Unlike traditional thermostats, programmable thermostats make it easy to adjust the temperature of your home while you’re away or sleeping. They can help you save more than $150 per year. See the Home Energy Squad information below for discounts and installation assistance.
• Turn down your thermostat and bundle up: It’s not just up to your furnace to keep you warm. Dressing in layers or throwing on a blanket can keep you warm while relying less on your heat source.
• Turn down your water heater: Heating water can drive up energy costs. While many heaters allow higher temperatures, 120 degrees offers enough heat while cutting down on energy use.
• Avoid using hot water unless you need it: Cold water works just fine for washing most clothing. Running your dishwasher daily, instead of hand washing your dishes, can save both energy and water.
• Maintain your furnace: Have a professional check out your furnace to ensure that it’s running efficiently. Make sure to change filters as recommended; clogged filters make your furnace work harder and use more natural gas.
• Keep air flowing in your home: Keep interior doors open to help air circulate freely and run a ceiling fan clockwise to push warm air down.
• Harness sunshine: Open south-facing shades or blinds during the day to receive heat from the sun. Close the shades or blinds at night to better insulate windows.
• Seal cracks in windows, doors and baseboards: Heat moves from hot to cold, so ensure warm air stays in your home by sealing drafty areas.

• Connect with EnergySmart: EnergySmart advisors can help you with various home energy projects, such as upgrades to electric appliances, insulation and air sealing or understanding electric vehicle options.
• Get a Home Energy Squad Visit through Xcel Energy: For $50, Xcel Energy will send a qualified technician to your home to install energy saving equipment, like LED lightbulbs, water saving products and a programmable thermostat. Upgrade to the $150 package and the technician will also perform an audit of your home to make sure your equipment is operating properly and to check for leaks that let in cold air.
• Add insulation: Investing in high-quality insulation in attics and crawlspaces can keep temperatures comfortable and costs low year-round.
• Install better windows: Heat loss occurs through windows, but multi-pane options with glass between keep heat in and cold out.

Cutting back on natural gas use not only saves money - it also helps the planet. Our electricity has been getting cleaner, and 2022 was the first year that emissions from residential electricity use dropped below those from residential natural gas use. This underscores the importance of shifting away from natural gas use in our homes.

• Explore Energy Rebates and Resources