In the article Five Ways to Reduce Energy Bills, we mentioned that variable use as one of the foreground loads to your energy bill. We covered reducing variable electric use previously. Now, we will talk about how to lower your bills for variable natural gas use.

People are often more familiar and aware of their use of electricity than natural gas. Just like for electricity, one important first step is to just know which devices are the natural gas hogs and worth considering fixing, replacing or cutting back usage. In our experience, it hardly means giving up your favorite activities or becoming less comfortable. Sometimes, an easy DIY (do it yourself) fix is all it takes while other times it’s time to replace a malfunctioning device.

Investigate Natural Gas Uses

It helps to have a good inventory of what may cause your gas bill spikes. Any of the following adding to your variable natural gas use?

• Indoor fireplaces or outdoor gas heaters or fire pits?
• Seasonal cooking variations, like high BBQ use in summer months?
• Extra hot water use during certain times of the year?
• Pottery kiln, glass-blowing furnace, incinerator…?

Use Solar Thermal to Heat Pool or Spa

You should consider getting solar thermal to heat your pool or spa. With a solar thermal system, you can heat water with the sun when it’s hot, which is also when you want to heat and use your pool! This is the most cost effective application of a very efficient solar solution. Learn more about how it works.

You can choose to do the installation yourself or hire a contractor. Keep in mind to ask any contractor about their experience with these types of systems on both the installation and maintenance of them. Properly maintained systems can last from 10-20 years.

You can calculate how much your current system costs with this calculator.

Investigate Pool/Spa Heating Spikes

Is your pool/spa causing your natural gas spikes? While 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit is the average temperature range for an outdoor pool, it will depend on your usage and preferences. The DOE estimates that a 2 degree difference in heating your pool can be over $150, depending on your location and if you have a pool cover. You should review if your pool is set to the right temperature and see if it is correlated with your energy spikes.