Annual heating bills can be reduced by as much as 10 percent a year if the temperature setting on the household thermostat is cut back 10 to 15 percent for eight hours a day. Here are some other ways to save:

• Set your thermostat no higher than 68 degrees when you are home; lower the temperature when you’re not at home, or when you go to bed. (A programmable thermostat will help with this.) For every degree you lower your thermostat you can save about 2 percent off your heating bill.
• Although some manufacturers set the temperature on household water heaters to 140°F, water at this temperature can create a danger of scalding. For most households, a setting of 120° is sufficient, and will save money on the energy bill. For every 10-degree reduction in water heater temperature, households can save 3 to 5 percent in energy costs.

For more energy-saving ideas visit www.nstaronline.com.

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