As the temperature outside starts dipping into the single digits, the need to save money on heating bills becomes a major issue for many students living in off-campus housing.
Although the average heating bill for the “heating season” can be upward of $150 a month, there are easy, inexpensive ways students on a tight budget can stretch their dollars a little further, said Terry DeDoes, spokesman for Consumers Energy.
The simplest thing a student can do is dial down the thermostat during times when nobody is at home or when people are asleep, DeDoes said.
“For every degree you dial down, you save about 1-3 percent on your heating bill,” he said.
DeDoes said he recommends keeping the thermostat at 68 degrees when students are at home, but said the temperature is up to students’ comfort levels.
To combat the temperature drop at home, DeDoes said students should add extra blankets to their beds and dress warmer when sitting around the house.
If a student shares a living space with roommates, it is important they agree on a set temperature, said Chris Kielich, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Energy.
Heating costs can skyrocket when roommates are constantly changing the temperature in the house, and the simple act of keeping the thermostat on one temperature can make a significant difference, Kielich said.
Kielich said she recommends installing a programmable thermostat, which costs about $30, so students can automatically lower the temperature during times they won’t need much heat, such as when they’re at class, asleep, or out of the house.
“Every Saturday night you go to the bar, so every Saturday night you can lower the heat and get 4-5 hours of lower heat,” she said.
Students also can save money by using cold water to wash clothes and dishes, which accounts for a sizeable amount of the monthly utility bill, Kielich said.
On average, water heating accounts for 12 percent of energy costs in homes, and 90 percent of the energy used in washing machines and dishwashers comes from heating water.
“Small things like that really add up,” Kielich said.
General business administration and pre-law senior Meqren Alshalan said he has tried a few techniques to save money during the winter, such as turning down his thermostat, but said he was disappointed with the small change in his heating bill.
But Alshalan said he was shocked to hear he could save about 10 percent a month by using cold water.
“That’s really amazing that you can start using cold water and cut back (10) percent of your bill,” he said.
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