Folsom, NJ - South Jersey Gas wants to remind its customers of some important tips they can use this winter to outsmart the low temperatures and help reduce energy costs:

  • Set thermostats between 65 and 70 degrees during the winter and at 58 degrees when away from the home for more than a few hours. Warmer temperatures are recommended for homes with ill or elderly persons or infants.
  • Install a programmable thermostat for your heating and cooling system. You can cut your annual heating bills by as much as 10 percent by turning your thermostat back a few degrees for eight hours per day.
  • Change or clean furnace filters once a month during the heating season. Furnaces consume less energy if they "breathe" more easily. Use the receipt of your natural gas bill as a reminder.
  • Lower the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It's an efficient and comfortable temperature setting and should not interfere with the operation of your appliances-and can lead to 14 percent savings on utility bills.
  • Warm air rises, so use registers to direct warm air-flow across the floor. If you have ceiling fans, turn the direction to clockwise to create an updraft and force warm air near the ceiling down into the occupied space.
  • If radiators are located near cold walls, place a sheet of aluminum foil between the radiator and wall to reflect heat back into the room.
  • Buy appliances that are labeled Energy Star-they meet strict guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy.

For more information on ways to save energy and money throughout the year, log onto www.southjerseygas.comand click on the Energy Efficiency link.
South Jersey Gas is the principal subsidiary of South Jersey Industries (NYSE: SJI) and provides natural gas service to more than 365,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, and significant portions of Gloucester, Burlington and Camden counties in New Jersey. Visit www.southjerseygas.comto learn more about South Jersey Gas and its programs.

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