Business : Alliant Energy offers tips to save on winter heating costs

Alliant Energy recognizes Energy Awareness Month with energy-saving tips reminds customers to take control of winter heating costs and provides tips on how to trim energy bills.

Customers can qualify for free home energy audit or furnace preventative maintenance. Three simple steps can save homeowners energy all year long.

October is reward energy Awareness Month

Before snow settles on the ground and winter sweaters come out, Interstate Power & Light Company, an Alliant Energy Company, is reminding its customers in Iowa to help take control of their heating costs.

“Qualifying customers can get a free home energy audit and learn some specific tips to reduce energy use in their own home,” said Lisa Pucelik, program manger. “We send out energy experts who visit a customer’s home and inspect exactly how that family is using energy. The advice and tips can make a dramatic decrease in utility bills this winter.”

During the home energy audit, the energy expert will analyze the customer’s energy efficiency needs and may install a clock-programmable thermostat, ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent light bulbs, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, pipe insulation and a water heater blanket. The improvements are no cost and optional for customers.

“During the audit, the energy expert will also identify any improvements the house structure needs to operate more efficiently. If they find any, customers can use other rewards from Alliant Energy to help afford those improvements,” said Pucelik. “The best case for customers would be to have the audit done, and the improvements made yet this fall, before the winter heating season kicks in.”

In the meantime, Alliant Energy is also offering to help pay for preventative maintenance on furnaces. Customers can get a reward to help defray the cost of an annual furnace check-up.

“Before furnace repair companies are busy fixing broken units on the coldest day of the year, we’re encouraging customers to get their unit checked out,” said Julie Blackwell, program manager. “This simple step can save them from finding their furnace doesn’t work when they need it most this winter, and to make sure it’s running at peak-efficiency.”

October is Energy Awareness Month and Alliant Energy has three easy ways consumers can save energy, and best of all, they require little to no investment. Homeowners can lower their energy bills in three simple steps - turn down the thermostat, trade out traditional light bulbs for compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and complete an energy audit.

“A cleaner environment and more sustainable future are important to many homeowners, and Energy Awareness Month is just another reminder that each of us can contribute to a global energy solution by using energy more efficiently,” said Linda Mattes, Director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables at Alliant Energy. “An added benefit is the money homeowners can save on their energy bill.” sharing ideas on what consumers can do to reduce energy consumption. By using energy more efficiently at home, homeowners can lower energy bills and reduce their environmental impact. There are three easy, low-cost and no-cost ways to get started on the path toward energy savings.

Consumers can save approximately ten percent on their annual heating costs by taking the “10 Degree Challenge.” Simply turn theyour thermostat down by ten degrees for eight hours each day – and save money while working or sleeping.

After turning the thermostat down a few degrees, another easy and effective place to start saving is with lighting. Lighting accounts for 20 percent of the average home's electric bill. Using just one ENERGY STAR® qualified CFL can save an average of $30 or more in electricity costs over its lifetime and prevent more than 450 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

CFLs save money by using 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than their old-fashioned counterparts. Because they produce more light than the traditional incandescent light bulbs, customers should purchase a CFL with a lower wattage to get the same amount of light.

Once a homeowner has looked at their thermostat settings and lighting, they can address the rest of the home with an energy audit. Alliant Energy customers are eligible to My Home Comfort Check Up, a free online audit, helps customers identify where their energy dollars are going. Homeowners can complete the online survey by visiting www.alliantenergy.com/mhcc

Alliant Energy reminds customers to take control of winter heating costs and recognizes Energy Awareness Month with energy-saving tips.

Most often, customers are paying $50-$100 for a typical home furnace inspection. Alliant Energy offers a reward up to $30 to heating customers to help offset the cost.

Together, these programs can save money this winter. However, the trick to seeing those savings is to have to work done this fall, before the harsh, cold temperatures of winter arrive.

To qualify, IPL must supply the home’s primary source of heat and the home must have been built prior to 2000.

Customers who receive their heating energy from Alliant Energy may also qualify for receive a free or low-cost home energy audit. During the audit, and find out just where their energy dollars are going.

Our energy expert will pinpoint energy wasters in the home and determine what energy-efficient improvements you may consider would most benefit their home. While performing the energy audit, the expert may take some immediate energy-saving measures, such as installing compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs,s), a low-flow showerhead, or a water heater wrap in your home.

Alliant Energy Iowa and Minnesota residential customers can learn more about energy audits by calling 1-866-ALLIANT (1-866-255-4268) or visiting www.alliantenergy.com/rewards

Lighting, which accounts for 20 percent of the average home's electric bill, is one of the easiest and most effective places to start saving. Using just one qualified compact fluorescent light (CFL) can save an average of $30 or more in electricity costs over its lifetime and prevent more than 450 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

In the average home, the most frequently used light fixtures are in the living room, dining room, kitchen, master bedroom and master bathroom. By changing out the five most-used light bulbs for CFLs, customers can save more than $65 a year in energy costs.

CFLs save money by using 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than their old-fashioned counterparts. Because they produce more light than the traditional incandescent light bulbs, you should purchase a CFL with a lower wattage to get the same amount of light.

Alliant Energy provides tips on how to trim your energy bill

Making your home more energy efficient can help to reduce high energy bills, improve comfort and help to protect the environment. Alliant Energy can guide you in making your home more efficient and help you trim your energy bill.

Alliant Energy is an energy-services provider with subsidiaries serving approximately 1 million electric and 400,000 natural gas customers. Providing its customers in the Midwest with regulated electric and natural gas service is the company’s primary focus. Alliant Energy is the trade name of utility companies Wisconsin Power and Light Company and Interstate Power and Light Company. Alliant Energy, headquartered in Madison, Wis., is a Fortune 1000 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.alliantenergy.com