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Winter energy-saving tips

Simple ways to save this winter

5 ways to cut costs

Find tips to use less energy this winter.

Set your thermostat

You can save about 2% of your heating bill for each degree that you lower the thermostat (if the turndown lasts a good part of the day or night). Turning down the thermostat from 70°F to 65°F, for example, saves about 10%.

Control your water temperature

Set your water heater thermostat at 120°F or lower. This way you'll reduce the amount of energy it takes to produce and maintain your hot water by not overheating it. Watch this short video on how to set your water heater temperature.

Microwave and save

Reheating leftovers in a microwave takes less time and uses up to 80% less energy than a standard oven.

Take advantage of rebates

Want to save even more? Find out which energy-saving upgrades may also qualify for rebates. Explore rebate opportunities.

GoGreen Financing

Finance up to $50,000 for 15 years at competitive rates through the State of California-administered Residential Energy Efficiency Loan program available in all counties. Learn more about GoGreen financing.

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Winter energy saving strategies

Prepare for winter with PG&E's top five energy-savings tips, including thermostat adjustments, window winterization, and more.

Stay informed with Outage Alerts

PG&E notifies you when your service is impacted, giving you information about the cause of the outage as well as when you can expect the power back on.

 

Choose to be notified via text, email or phone. Visit the Profile & Alerts section of Your Account and click on "Outages" to set your preferences. Be sure to save changes.

Sign up for Outage Alerts

Stay safe with a buffer zone around your space heater

Prevent fires by keeping a 3-foot buffer zone around your space heater at all times. Never leave your heater unattended while you’re sleeping or away from home.

Get more energy-saving tips

Consider installing an automatic gas-shutoff for emergencies

If there's an earthquake or other disaster, an automatic gas-shutoff valve will immediately stop the flow of gas. This prevents fires if a gas line in your home breaks.

Learn more about gas safety

3 ways to save up to $655 per year

Find energy-saving products to save you save energy and money.

Clean air filters

By cleaning or replacing air filters regularly, you can enhance your heating system, improve indoor air quality, and reduce energy costs. You can find a replacement filter at your local hardware store for about $5.

 

Save about $135 every year

Use light dimmers

Installing dimmers and using only the light you need can help you save significantly on lighting costs and extend the life of your bulbs.

 

Save about $100 each year

Use and switch off power strips

Many computers, televisions, and other devices draw power even when they’re turned off. Use an advanced power strip to reduce your electricity use and save up to $100 per year.

 

Save up to $430 per year

3 easy home upgrades

Discover energy-saving projects.

Insulate your electric water heater

The average household spends more than $250 per year on water heating. It’s the second largest energy expenditure behind heating and cooling.

Keep warm air moving

Reverse your fan in winter to produce a gentle updraft, forcing warm air near the ceiling down into the living space.

Stop drafts in their tracks

Sealing air leaks can save you up to 20% on your heating and cooling costs. Weatherstrip windows and doors and seal cracks with caulk.

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Energy efficiency do it yourself toolkit

PG&E's Energy Efficiency DIY Tool Kit includes items that can help customers improve energy efficiency at home and lower their energy bills. The tool kit includes items purchased at local stores or online for less than $200. These items, combined with our no-cost savings tips can help a typical customer save nearly $1,000 on their annual energy bills.*

*Dollar and cumulatively bundled energy savings are approximate and may vary by home and energy use.

No-cost, low-cost and investment ideas for winter projects

Discover ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home during cold weather.

 

When the weather is cold, use these energy-saving ideas in your home
 

  • When using your fireplace, turn down your heater
    When you're not using it, close the damper to block incoming cold air.
  • Close curtains, shades and blinds at night and during unoccupied periods of the day
    This helps prevent warm air from escaping.
  • Set your furnace thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (68 F) or lower, health permitting.
    Three to five percent more energy is used for each degree you set your furnace above 68 F.
  • When you leave the house, set your thermostat to 56 F
    By turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours, you can save five to 15 percent a year on your heating bill.

Take advantage of these cost-efficient tips
 

  • Caulk gaps and cracks around drafty doorframes and windows
    This will prevent cold air from entering your home. Caulk is inexpensive and can be purchased at most hardware stores, where you can also learn how to apply it.
  • Wrap older water heaters with an insulating jacket or blanket to minimize excess heat loss
    Remember to leave the air intake vent uncovered.
  • Air seal and properly insulate attics, walls, floors over crawl spaces and accessible basement rim joists
    Doing so may result in a savings of up to 10 percent of your total energy costs.

These longer-term investments can help you save even more energy and money
 

  • Have a contractor check your central heating and cooling duct system for leaks
    Sealing and insulating air ducts can improve the efficiency of your system substantially.
  • Install a door sweep on your garage door to seal the gap between the bottom of the door and the threshold
    The door sweep prevents cold air from coming in and warm air from escaping your home.
  • Insulate the spaces between your walls with foam
    Homes often leak warm air in the winter because of spaces between walls. Fill these gaps by spraying foam insulation into holes drilled in the wall.

Manage gas costs and save

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Explore energy savings programs

Review PG&E energy efficiency programs
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Find sources of wasted energy

Schedule your Home Energy Checkup
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Keep your monthly payments balanced

Enroll in Budget Billing

More ways to lower your energy bill

Financial assistance programs

Find out whether your household qualifies for a monthly discount on your energy bill and enroll.

Learn about financial assistance programs

Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) program

Explore no-cost home energy improvements for income-qualified homes that are at least five years old.

Apply for the ESA program

Medical Baseline

Residential customers who rely on power for certain medical needs, additional energy at the lowest price on their current rate.

Learn about Medical Baseline