The Weather Outside is Delightful; Prepare Before it Turns Frightful

The Weather Outside is Delightful; Prepare Before it Turns FrightfulIt's Never Too Early to Plan for the Chilly Months Ahead

MOORESVILLE, N.C., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- As the mercury drops, the threat of rising natural gas prices and heating bills looms. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average U.S. households are expected to spend nearly $1,200 on winter heating bills this year. With some easy energy-saving tips from Lowe's, you can keep your home cozy and save some green while keeping Old Man Winter at bay.

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"The fall is the time to prepare and update your home to help lower your expenses during the cold months ahead," says Michael Chenard, director of environmental affairs for Lowe's. "Some easy to do and affordable projects for around the home include insulation, weather stripping around doors and windows, expandable foam for cracks and CFL light bulbs in your fixtures, which can all make a noticeable difference on your monthly energy bills."

Thermostat Combat

When consumers start to notice an increase in energy costs, most will simply turn down the thermostat. To get more mileage from your thermostat, invest in a programmable one like the 5 + 2 Day Programmable ENERGY STAR(R) Thermostat (Item # 126338, $29). The ENERGY STAR(R) thermostats can save you around $180 per year when used correctly by changing the temperature for you when you are at work or on vacation.

Seal the Deal

Insulate and seal the sources of air drafts to save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs. Common areas where air seeps out of the home include windows, baseboards, doorways, electrical plates, gypsum board, fireplaces and door sweeps. To test for leaky windows or doors, place a playing card into the crevice of an outside door or window. If it fits, you need more weather stripping. Seal your windows with Caulk items such as GE Silicone II Premium Waterproof Window and Door Caulk (Item # 47970, $5.82). Also try weather stripping your windows and adding door sweeps beneath doors for added insulation."

Another easy way to reduce your energy bills is by making sure your attic is properly insulated. If you can see the wood beams (joists) in your attic, chances are you need more insulation. This simple addition of insulation can assist in reducing up to 40 percent of your home's energy loss.

Greet the Heat

Zone heating with vent-free gas products (fireplaces, logs or space heaters) and portable electric heaters can help keep you warm without heating the whole house, allowing you to lower your thermostat to reduce your bills. Supplemental heating sources allow you to get a great return on your energy investment.

Alternative ways to heat the home include wood stoves, which burn logs to generate heat, and pellet stoves, which burn specially manufactured pellets to produce heat with little ash. Vent-free gas and stove products are available on a market specific basis according to local codes.

In addition, by using a ceiling fan along with your heater, you can save up to 40 percent on your utility bill. In the winter, ceiling fans should rotate clock-wise to cycle the warm air that rises.

Detect and Protect

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for use and placement of heating devices. Many units have built-in safety features like automatic shutoffs, anti-tipping devices and heat guards to help you rest easy throughout the winter.

If you're adding a new heating device to your home, it's a great time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If you don't have a detector, keep your family safe by installing one, such as the Kidde DC Voice-Alert CO and Smoke Alarm (Item #143036, $38.97), on every level of your home.

Always keep a fire extinguisher near heating units and read all the directions before attempting to put out a fire and be sure to select an appropriate size fire extinguisher you can physically handle. Also, keep young children away from the heating devices in the home to avoid contact burn injuries.

For more tips and products on how to heat your home and save on heating costs, visit Lowes.com/energy or your local Lowe's store.

About Lowe's

With fiscal year 2007 sales of $48.3 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,575 home improvement stores in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.