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Winter Tips

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Beware of the Energy Vampire

This Halloween, be sure to check for energy vampires lurking right in your own home!

An “energy vampire” is an electronic appliance or device that uses energy while plugged in, even when turned off or in standby mode. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, these money and energy sucking monsters account for 5 to 10 percent of energy use, adding up to roughly $100 per year for each household. Common energy vampires include TV’s, video game consoles, cable boxes, computers, wall chargers, and kitchen appliances.

The City of Fullerton encourages you to follow these tips to slay energy vampires in your home:

  • Unplug appliances and devices when not in use or when finished charging.
  • Use power strips or surge protectors and power off when not in use.
  • Consider energy efficiency options, such as ENERGY STAR qualified products, when purchasing new appliances and electronics.

For more information about saving energy, please visit SCE.com.

Tips for a Safe and Energy Efficient Holiday Season

The 10 Minute-Holiday Light Safety Test

The City of Fullerton encourages you to take a few minutes to check lights and decorations for your family's safety this holiday season. To do so, examine holiday lights, cords, power strips, and outlets with the following questions in mind:

  • Are all electrical cords and light strands in good condition? If not, dispose of them at your local electronic waste drop off. To reduce punctures and tares in cords, hang them with zip ties instead of nails or staples.
  • Are your outlets, extension cords or surge protectors overloaded? As a rule of thumb, do not load your household circuit over 80%. This means that a 15-amp household can safely handle 12-amps.
  • Are all lights and cords approved by UL? Underwriters Laboratories is an independent, nonprofit organization that tests electrical equipment for potential hazards. The UL mark will be indicated on products that have been tested and verified for safety.
  • Can lights be easily shut off before leaving home? Leaving lights on can present an unnecessary fire hazard.

Take Advantage of Heat from the Sun

  • Open curtains on the south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home, and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.
  • Be certain to plant deciduous trees on the south facing side of the home, especially in proximity to windows.  They will let the light and warmth in the windows during the winter and will shade the windows in the summer.

 Cover Drafty Windows

  • Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
  • Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.
  • Find out about other window treatments and coverings that can improve energy efficiency.

Adjust the Temperature

  • When you are home and awake, set the thermostat as low as is comfortable.
  • When you are asleep or out of the house, turn the thermostat back to save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills. A smart or programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature. But make sure the temperature is comfortable for pets!
  • If you have a heat pump, maintain a moderate setting or use a programmable thermostat specially designed for use with heat pumps.

Find and Seal Leaks

  • Seal air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
  • Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.

Maintain Your Heating Systems

  • Schedule routine service for home heating systems.
  • Replace furnace and heat pump filters once a month or as needed. Find out more about maintaining furnaces or boilers and heat pumps.
  • Regularly clean the flue vent of wood and pellet burning heaters and clean the inside of the appliance with a wire brush periodically to ensure that it is heating efficiently. Find other maintenance recommendations for wood- and pellet-burning appliances. 

Reduce Heat Loss from the Fireplace

  • Keep the fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney.
  • When using the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly--approximately 1 inch--and close doors leading into the room. Lower the thermostat setting to between 50° and 55°F.
  • If the fireplace is never used, plug and seal the chimney flue.
  • Install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.
  • Check the seal on the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible.
  • Purchase grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool room air into the fireplace and circulate warm air back into the room.
  • Add caulking around the fireplace hearth. Find out more techniques to improve your fireplace or wood-burning appliance's efficiency. Learn tips for safe and efficient fireplace installation and wood burning.

Lower Water Heating Costs

  • Keep the temperature of the water heater to the warm setting (120°F). This will not only save energy, it will also help avoid scalding.
  • Find other ideas for energy-efficient water heating.

Lower Holiday Lighting Costs

  • Use light-emitting diode -- or "LED" -- holiday light strings to reduce the cost of decorating the home for the winter holidays.
  • Learn about the advantages and potential cost savings of LED holiday light strings.
  • Find manufacturers and brands of ENERGY STAR® certified decorative light strings.

Range & Oven Safety

  • Never use your oven, range top or outdoor barbecue to heat your home because these appliances are not designed for this purpose and can pose a safety hazard.
  • Keep range, oven and broiler top areas clean of grease. Grease is flammable and excessive build-up may result in a fire.
  • Never install aluminum foil in the oven or range top. This can restrict exhaust vents which can result in carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon Monoxide

Have your gas appliances inspected regularly by a qualified state-licensed professional at least every year, or as often as the manufacturer recommends. Not performing regular maintenance may result in inefficient appliance operation, and in some cases, dangerous exposure to carbon monoxide.