Conservation efforts could pay off

MAT-SU - Electric bills are going to rise this winter, thanks to higher fuel costs.

Increased use of electricity that occurs in the wintertime, such as using more lights during darker months and turning the heat setting higher during colder weeks, will cause electric bills to rise, according to Matanuska Electric Association spokesman Mike Pauley.

The electric co-operative that serves the Valley and Eagle River provides brochures on conserving electricity in its Palmer, Wasilla and Eagle River locations.

MEA's newsletter, Powerlines, suggests winterizing cold spots in the home, moving furniture that is blocking heating vents and using a timer when cooking instead of opening and shutting the oven door to check on food.

The newsletter also recommended using timers on Christmas lights to save on that holiday bill.

Here are some other tips:

€ Replace the five most frequently used incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. This will save more than 500 kilowatt hours per year, $75 annually and more than 500 pounds of carbon dioxide.

€ Replace a 1970s refrigerator with a new EnergyStar refrigerator. This can save more than 2,000 kilowatt hours per year and more than $290 in electricity costs every year. This will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2,000 pounds every year.

To find more advice on making a home or business more energy efficient, check out www.eere.energy.gov. Another helpful Web site is www.energystar.gov.

- Dawn De Busk