Operation Keep ME Warm Helps Heat Maine
Operation Keep ME Warm is helping thousands of Mainers this winter cope with rising energy costs.
The statewide energy and heating assistance program is a partnership between government foundations, private contributions, volunteers, and advocacy groups. The goal of Operation Keep ME Warm is to raise money to help those who do not qualify for federal, state, or local fuel assistance.
Operation Keep ME Warm provides household heating and energy assistance, as well as resources for weatherization, energy audits, food, shelter, legal assistance, counseling, childcare, and elder services.
In an attempt to help Mainers save money, Operation Keep ME Warm offers the following energy saving tips:
1. Close storm windows and use drapes and shades at night to conserve heat.
Estimated Savings - $229.46 per year
2. Close flue dampers on fireplace.
Estimated Savings - $227.92 per year
3. Install faucet flow restrictors and low-flow shower heads.
Estimated Savings - $194.04 per year
4. Tune up your heating system.
Estimated Savings - $190.96 per year
5. Insulate, caulk, and weather-strip your home.
Estimated Savings - $187.88 per year
6. Remove and vacuum your furnace filter every month. Replace it when it cannot be vacuumed clean.
Estimated Savings - $141.68 per year
7. Close and reduce heat in all unoccupied areas.
Estimated Savings - $130.90 per year
8. Replace 60W incandescent bulbs with 13W CFLs.
Estimated Savings - $77.20 per bulb over the life of the bulb
9. Set your thermostat back.
Estimated Savings - $77 annually for every degree set back
10. Insulate heat pipes and duct work.
Estimated Savings - $2.25 per foot for hot water pipes, $3.99 per foot for steam pipes, $2.28 per foot for hot air ducts
By following a few or all of these energy saving tips, you will not only be helping your bank account and living conditions, you’ll also be helping the environment. And that truly is a WIN-WIN situation.
For more information on obtaining home heating and energy assistance or the other numerous resources Keep ME Warm has to offer, please visit: www.unitedwaygp.org/what_we_do/keep_me_warm.php
