Colder temps to hit Delaware this week. How to keep your house warm, save money on bills

Krys'tal Griffin and Molly McVety, Delaware News Journal
·7 min read

As Delaware gets hit with colder temperatures in the coming days, don’t forget easy ways you can keep your home warm and save money on energy bills.

An Alberta Clipper — a fast-moving, low-pressure weather system — is forecast to pass through the mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and central Appalachians regions on Tuesday, the National Weather Service reported.

The weather system is named after Alberta, Canada, where it originated, and will pass through the United States during the late-fall and winter months, likely bringing strong winds and bursts of snowfall, according to the weather service.

Although snow is not forecast in Delaware, rain and cooler temperatures from the Alberta Clipper are expected in the region.

What is the weather in Delaware?

People walk the Boardwalk as light snow has been falling over Rehoboth Beach with little accumulation as the temperature hovers around 32 degrees at the beach on Sun., Jan. 31, 2021.
People walk the Boardwalk as light snow has been falling over Rehoboth Beach with little accumulation as the temperature hovers around 32 degrees at the beach on Sun., Jan. 31, 2021.

On Tuesday in Delaware, it will be mostly cloudy with a high near 46 degrees and winds between 5 mph and 10 mph.

By nightfall, a 20% chance of rain is expected between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. Skies will be mostly cloudy with 5 mph winds and a low around 3 degrees.

Wednesday will be partly sunny with a high near 45 degrees and winds between 5 mph and 10 mph. Nighttime temperatures will hover around 26 degrees with winds between 5 mph and 10 mph. Skies will be mostly clear.

Thursday and Friday will see a slight increase in temperatures with highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s.

Tips for keeping your house warm, saving money on bills

Don't forget to inspect your chimney and fireplace before lighting a fire this season.
Don't forget to inspect your chimney and fireplace before lighting a fire this season.

Even though it’s time to crank the heat up for the next few months, that doesn’t mean your energy bills have to follow suit.

Simple actions can help you keep warm air in your house without running up your heating bills. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources recommends the follow tips for a cozy, energy-efficient home this winter:

  • Keep windows completely closed to prevent drafts from coming in and putting a strain on your HVAC system.

  • Seal and insulate thermal boundaries like walls, ceilings, floors and roofs to keep cold air out.

  • Weather strip doors and use a door sweep to prevent frigid winter air from entering your home.

  • Checking your HVAC system for any maintenance needs before cold weather hits to ensure it works properly.

  • Inspect chimneys and fireplaces for cracks or debris before lighting a fire. Using a draft guard can also be helpful for keeping cold air out.

If you’re having trouble finding that thermostat sweet spot during the winter, the Department of Energy recommends keeping thermostats between 68 degrees and 70 degrees while you’re awake and setting it lower while you’re asleep or away from home.

Turning your thermostat back 7 degrees to 10 degrees from its normal setting for eight hours a day can save you as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling, the department reports.

The Department of Energy adds that by lowering the interior temperature of a home, you will slow your home's heat loss. The longer a house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy it will save.

If those temperatures feel too chilly, consider it a perfect time to bundle blankets on the couch and finally binge that new series you want to watch.

… Or invest in a space heater.

A tightly sealed window prevents drafts in winter.
A tightly sealed window prevents drafts in winter.

Space heaters can help cut costs by targeting a single room rather than using a heating system to warm the entire house but beware of the hazards. Make sure you use heaters in accordance with user manuals and keep all flammable objects away from them.

On the flipside, no amount of savings on bills is worth lowering your thermostat temperatures so much that you impact your health.

If you like it fairly cold, the World Health Organization recommends keeping indoor temperatures between 64 degrees and 75 degrees for healthy people and no lower than 68 degrees for those who are very young, the elderly or anyone with health problems.

And if all this thermostat changing sounds way too complicated, investing in a smart thermostat means your system will do work for you — automatically adjusting system temperatures for certain periods of time each day — while you relax and enjoy your home.

Weatherization and energy-saving programs in Delaware

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control offers a Weatherization Assistance Program through the Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy to help low-income households fix leaky homes with drafty doors or windows, and poorly insulated walls, pipes and crawl spaces.

Professionals from the program assess each home and provide weather-stripping, energy-efficient light bulbs, insulation and other energy-saving measures free of charge, such as:

  • Air sealing, caulking, glazing and crack patching

  • Replacing broken glass

  • Sealing heating and cooling ducts

The program also can cover one heating system maintenance check, which is recommended for homeowners to perform once a year.

The Weatherization Assistance Program does not install, service or repair air conditioners or replace windows, doors or home furnaces.

If you are interested in solar energy for your home, DNREC’s Low-to-Moderate-Income Solar Program offers funding for potentially free or reduced services.

To apply for the Weatherization Assistance Program, contact the Energy Coordinating Agency at (302) 504-6111 to set up an appointment. If you have questions, call (302) 735-3480.

Take a look at your windows and try to figure out where the air is leaking in. It could be that the seal between the glass and the window sash is cracked.
Take a look at your windows and try to figure out where the air is leaking in. It could be that the seal between the glass and the window sash is cracked.

Delaware renewable and energy-efficiency nonprofit Energize Delaware also offers home performance audits for no or low cost to the homeowner.

Depending on the household’s income, households can apply for a free energy audit and can install up to $100 in energy savings.

Low-cost audits are $50 upfront and can provide homeowners with up to $250 in savings. Additional discounts can be made for active or retired members of the military, first responders or people on government assistance.

Auditors will make recommendations on where the home’s energy usage can be improved and employ energy-saving measures like LED light bulbs, shower heaters, faucet aerators, hot water heaters or free night lights installed in the home.

Visit EnergizeDelaware.org or call (302) 883-3048 for more information.

Save $$$ on bills this winter: How to save energy and money this winter in Delaware and where to go for help

Utility-specific programs in Delaware

Another simple and affordable way to fix leaking windows is to install weather sealing tape or weatherstripping if your windows have cracks around the edges of the glass, or if the window sash isn't closing all the way.
Another simple and affordable way to fix leaking windows is to install weather sealing tape or weatherstripping if your windows have cracks around the edges of the glass, or if the window sash isn't closing all the way.

Additional rebates and energy-saving programs are also available through different electric utility companies.

Residents in Kent and Sussex counties who get their electricity from the Delaware Electric Co-op are eligible to enroll in energy-saving programs with direct savings.

Energy usage typically hits its peak in the late afternoon during summer months. Customers who are occasionally willing to reduce their energy usage during this time can enroll in “Beat the Peak” events.

Smart thermostats can be linked to the program and automatically adjust the home’s temperature (usually around three degrees) for a couple of hours. Residents willing to partake can receive a $25 credit up front, and an additional $5 per month during the summer months.

Additionally, electric vehicle charging systems can be connected which temporarily halts a vehicle’s charging during peak hours to reduce the load on the electric grid. This results in a $100 credit upfront and an additional $5 per month.

Don't forget to completely remove all air conditioning units from windows once cold weather arrives. Leaving them in windows can allow drafts from outside to creep into your home.
Don't forget to completely remove all air conditioning units from windows once cold weather arrives. Leaving them in windows can allow drafts from outside to creep into your home.

Customers without a smart thermostat or electric vehicle can also get notifications from the Delaware Electric Co-op mobile app, which lets users know when a good time to adjust the thermostat is, not only reducing the load on the electric grid but saving money for all customers in the network.

Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation’s Efficiency Smart program also provides rebates for the replacement of appliances in favor of more energy-efficient alternatives.

DEMEC’s coverage includes electric utilities for the towns of Clayton, Middletown, Milford, Newark, New Castle, Seaford and Smyrna.

Appliances like clothes washers and dryers, refrigerators, dehumidifiers, air purifiers, smart thermostats, window and central air conditioners and more are included in the rebate program. Rebate amounts range depending on the type of appliance and model a home receives.

The program has energy advisers on call who can help point homeowners in the right direction. Residents can also borrow a monitor to learn how much energy a certain appliance is using, even when it’s not being used. There is also an online quiz people can take to assess energy usage.

Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com. 

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How to stay warm as colder temperatures creep in, save money on bills