Barry CourterBarry Courter has a 25-year-old son who is a college graduate and a 21-year-old daughter who is a junior in college.
Q: Dad, our heat bill seems way high, and we’ve been turning it off when we’re not home. What’s up?
A: Turning it off and on is more expensive than setting it at the lowest comfortable temperature (think sweaters) and leaving it alone. When it’s really cold outside and you turn the heat off while you are gone, it takes as much or more energy to warm up the walls and furniture when you get back home, costing you more money.