Winter temperatures and heavy snowfall are just around the corner for many parts of the country and it’s never too early to prepare. Benefits.gov wants to help you and your family to stay ahead of the forecast by keeping warm and saving both money and energy this winter season.
Tips to Save Energy and Money
To help you prepare, here are a few do-it-yourself tips proven to save energy, and money, at home:
- Weather-strip air leaks. This means sealing windows, skylights and doors with caulking from your local hardware store.
- Seal air duct leaks. Air ducts are one of the most important systems in your home. If the ducts are poorly sealed or insulated, it’s likely they’ll contribute to higher energy bills – read the Department of Energy’s (DOE) tips for sealing your air ducts.
- Remove your window AC. By removing the unit and sealing the window, you will save energy while blocking those freezing drafts.
- Install a programmable thermostat. This device enables you to set the proper temperatures when you’re home and away. Turning your thermostat back 10-15 degrees for 8 hours can save 5-15 percent a year on your heating bill, according to the DOE.
- Check your heating system regularly. Proper furnace maintenance saves money, conserves energy, and prevents costly repairs in the future. Also, check and clean your heating system filters regularly to maintain proper airflow.
Check out Ready.gov for more tips on preparing your family and home for extreme cold and winter storms. Also be sure to check out the following benefit programs that could help you save.
Energy Efficient Mortgage Insurance
If you want to do more extensive work on your home to save energy, you might be eligible for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development‘s (HUD) Energy Efficient Mortgage Insurance. HUD offers this program to help home buyers or homeowners save money on their utility bills. The program assists people in getting loans to cover the cost of adding energy saving features to new or existing housing as part of a Federal Housing Administration insured home purchase or refinancing mortgage.
Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons
You can also help to make your home as energy efficient as possible with the DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons (WAP). WAP enables low-income families to reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. Funds are used to improve the energy performance of dwellings families in need, using the most advanced technologies and testing procedures available in the housing industry resulting in lower energy bills in the future.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
If you still need some extra assistance with payments on your heating bills, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offers the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help families pay for increasing energy and fuel costs. Each state offers their own version of LIHEAP, so you should find out whether you are eligible to receive LIHEAP benefits by contacting your state or tribal LIHEAP office. Information about how to contact each office can be obtained on the HHS website.
Need additional resources?
Be sure to read our article Stay Warm and Save Money This Winter with Tips from the Department of Energy.
When temperatures drop down, energy bills go up. Stay warm and save money this winter by making your home more energy efficient! To find out if you might be eligible for these, or any of the more than 1,000 other benefits on our site, take the Benefit Finder questionnaire.
Ways to Stay Warm During a Winter Power Outage
• Never use a generator indoors or within 20 feet of your house.
• Have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every floor.
• If you use your car to stay warm or charge devices, make sure it’s outside the garage.
• Never use a device (such as an oven) to produce heat unless that’s its intended purpose.
• Indoor portable heaters should have an automatic shutoff switch in case they tip over.
Staying Safe During Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
Winter weather can be dangerous and volatile. In fact, according to the National Weather Service, winter
storms are considered deceptive killers because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. Thus, it is
important to be prepared during and after a winter storm or extreme cold.
Winter storms can last for a prolonged period of time. Do the following during a winter storm or extreme cold:
Stay indoors during the storm.
Walk carefully on snowy, icy walkways.
Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack—a major cause of
death in the winter. If shoveling snow is unavoidable, stretch before going outside.
Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat and possible frostbite. Wet
clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.
Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities
such as fingers, toes, ear lobes and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help
immediately.
Watch for signs of hypothermia. If symptoms of hypothermia are detected, get the victim to a warm
location, remove wet clothing, warm the center of the body first and give warm, non-alcoholic
beverages if the victim is conscious. Get medical help as soon as possible. These include
uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and
apparent exhaustion.
Drive only if it is absolutely necessary. If driving is unavoidable: travel in the day; do not travel alone;
keep others informed of your schedule; stay on main roads and avoid back road shortcuts.
Let someone know the destination, route and expected arrival time. If your car gets stuck along the
way, help can be sent along the predetermined route.
If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags. Completely
open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the
cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate).
Maintain ventilation when using kerosene heaters to avoid build-up of toxic fumes. Refuel kerosene
heaters outside and keep them at least three feet from flammable objects.
Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping the residence cooler than normal. Temporarily close off heat
to some rooms.
If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in the home, but set it to a
temperature no lower than 55ºF.
If you must go outside, wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves.
Wear a hat to prevent loss of body heat.
Cover the mouth with a scarf to protect the lungs.
Stranded in a Vehicle
If a blizzard traps you in a car:
Pull off the highway. Turn on hazard lights and hang a distress flag from the radio antenna or window.
Remain in the vehicle where rescuers are most likely to find you. Do not set out on foot unless a
building is visible and near where shelter can be taken. Be careful; distances are distorted by blowing
snow. A building may seem close, but be too far to walk to in deep snow.
Keep the engine off, but start the car and run the engine and heater about 10 minutes each hour to
keep warm. Whenever the engine is running, open a downwind window slightly for ventilation and
periodically clear snow from the exhaust pipe. This will protect from possible carbon monoxide
poisoning.
Exercise to maintain body heat, but avoid overexertion. In extreme cold, use road maps, seat covers,
and floor mats for insulation. Huddle with passengers and use coats for a blanket.
Take turns sleeping. One person should be awake at all times to look for rescue crews.
Eat regularly and drink ample fluids to avoid dehydration, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Be careful not to waste battery power. Balance electrical energy needs the use of lights, heat, and
radio with supply.
Turn on the inside dome light at night so work crews or rescuers can see you.
If stranded in a remote area, stomp large block letters in an open area spelling out HELP or SOS and
line with rocks or tree limbs to attract the attention of rescue personnel who may be surveying the
area by airplane.
Leave the car and proceed on foot, if necessary, once the blizzard passes.
After Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
Go to a designated public shelter if the home loses power or heat during periods of extreme cold.
Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in the area (example:
shelter 12345). Before going to the shelter, be sure to check with the local emergency management
agency for availability and other information.
Continue to protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia by wearing warm, loose-fitting, lightweight
clothing in several layers. Stay indoors, if possible.
Resources
American Red Cross: www.redcross.org
Federal Emergency Management Agency: http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: www.noaa.gov
National Traffic and Road Closure Information: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/index.htm
Some content on this page was gathered from documents found on the website for the Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.ready.gov
