October 2026 Newsletter – Plan Ahead Now to Save on Energy Bills

By taking a few of these proactive practical steps now, you can help your home stay warmer and more affordable throughout the colder months of the year.

Worried about rising energy costs as you look ahead to the colder months? Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (68%) are already struggling with higher utility bills. With autumn just around the corner, it’s natural to start thinking about ways to keep heating bills from getting out of control. Planning ahead can give you time to take advantage of simple, low-cost methods to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Try a home energy audit – You could pay for a professional energy audit, but many local utility companies offer free, low-cost or subsidized home energy audits. Energy audits evaluate your home for things like air leaks around windows and doors, your home’s insulation, the efficiency of your HVAC system and more.

If your local company doesn’t offer this, you can perform your own energy audit. Here are a few simple, low-cost DIY tasks which address many common issues found in energy audits:

Caulking and weather stripping for windows or doors can help prevent heat loss, saving anywhere from 5-10% on energy costs over the winter. Take a look at the windows and doors – inside and outside the home – find areas where extra caulking or weather stripping is needed.

Look for obstructions around your home to ensure heat vents, air registers or radiators are not blocked by furniture, and are clear of dust and debris.

Replace your lighting with more efficient Energy Star certified LED bulbs.

Try to use blackout curtains with thermal properties that are effective for retaining heat.

Take care of HVAC and furnace maintenance now. Schedule your fall furnace cleaning and tune-up appointments and clean your filters!