THE STATE WE’RE IN By Michele S. Byers Tips on how to lower energy bills.
With winter on the way, New Jerseyans may find themselves with the "cold sweats." Heating oil prices are at all-time highs and heating costs will be higher this winter than ever.
According to the Energy Information Administration, the price for heating oil has increased 61 cents in just one year. Higher heating oil prices are due to increasing costs of crude oil, reflecting traders’ concerns about supplies.
This "domino effect" is further fueled by below-normal temperature forecasts in the mid-Atlantic states this winter, which will really turn up the heat.
So far, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, the highest price paid for heating oil was in the District of Columbia at $2.235 a gallon, followed by New York at $2.129 a gallon. New Jersey’s costs for heating oil ranked third highest in the nation, coming in at $2.058 a gallon.
So what can be done? Conservation is one recourse. Home insulating is a cost-efficient way to reduce energy waste. Save 10 percent or more on your energy bills by caulking, sealing and weather-stripping all seams, cracks and openings to the outside. Keep your thermostat at 68 degrees or less. Visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Web site www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/ for other tips on how to make homes more energy efficient.
But heating oil is not the only harbinger of high energy costs this winter. Gasoline, which accounts for about 17 percent of the energy consumed in the United States, may rise in price this winter as well.
With many New Jerseyans commuting more than 30 minutes each way to work, rising gasoline prices will take a toll. In fact, New Jersey ranks third highest in the nation in terms of daily time spent commuting to work, trailing New York and Maryland.
To save and conserve on gasoline, consider buying a "clean" car. Cleaner versions of popular models (known as partial zero-emission vehicles, or PZEVs) and hybrid cars optimize fuel economy and reduce pollution.
Of course, a long-term solution may be a fuel-cell vehicle, which runs on hydrogen gas and has the potential to replace the internal-combustion engine. Until then, take public transportation when you can, and enjoy some of the scenery you might miss when driving your car.
If we all adopted a conservation ethic for the energy, water and other natural resources we use every day, we’d save money and the environment. Oh, and don’t forget to wear that extra sweater around the house!
I hope you’ll contact me at 1-888-LAND-SAVE or [email protected], or visit NJCF’s Web site at www.njconservation.org, for more information about conserving New Jersey’s precious land and natural resources.
Michele S. Byers is executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.