Are you ready to face the chill?
As the weather gets colder many people are preparing their houses for the cold by winterizing, this may help save money on rising heating bills
Nicole Harris
Issue date: 11/16/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
|
West Side Lumber-Ace Hardware, of 1301 West Jackson St., is well stocked and ready to provide assistance to Macomb residents hoping to winterize their homes.
Ryan Parks, Ace employee for three years, said the store has seen community members rushing in to prepare for the season. However he urges everyone, community members and off-campus students alike, to act now to save money on heating bills.
"Anytime in the fall when it gets cooler, when you have to turn your heat on, it's a good time to think about it," Parks said.
Parks recommends Ace Rope Caulk Weatherstrip, $1.99 to $4.99, for renters who want to winterize but cannot make permanent modifications to their apartment or home. He also suggests window insulation kits and door sweeps. "Your doors and windows are the most important to weatherize," he added.
Products like Ace Indoor Window Insulation Kits range from $3.99 to $13.99 and can be an inexpensive way to combat rising energy costs. According to the Energy Information Administration's Nov. 8 Short-Term Energy Outlook, households this winter could face up to a 41-percent increase in heating costs compared to what they paid last winter. The statistics differ for homes heated primarily with natural gas, heating oil, propane or electricity. But what remains constant for all sources of heat is the estimated rise in costs.
Fortunately for Macomb residents, Ameren CIPS, the local supplier of gas and electric utilities, does not predict an increase in costs until 2007. According to Ameren.com, customer rates have been reduced or frozen since 1997, but this trend cannot continue because of rising power costs.
"Power costs have increased significantly above the levels reflected in our current rates ... Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, we (Ameren) need to buy electricity in the open wholesale market."
The site states these costs must be passed on to the consumer in order for the utility company to continue to reliably deliver power. Local increases in 2007 are estimated to be 20 to 35 percent higher than past years.
Be the first to comment on this story