Energy Saving Tips

Home Heating

• Residential heating systems need regular tune-ups. Contact Central Oil about a home-heating system inspection program.

• Change your furnace filter monthly. clean filters will save you money on your heating bill.

• Consider investing in a furnace thermostat timer that can save money by lowering your home's temperature when you are not at home.

• Protect against drafts around windows and doors by caulking and weather-stripping.

• If you are purchasing a fireplace, consider selecting one fueled by propane. Propane fireplaces burn more efficiently than wood-burning models and distribute heat more evenly throughout the room.

• Ducts that leak heated air into unheated spaces can add hundreds of dollars a year to your heating bills. Insulating ducts that are in unconditioned spaces is usually very cost effective.

• Adjust your thermostats - down for heating, up for cooling.

• Reduce hot water temperature. Set at about 130 degrees F.

• Install water flow restrictors and aerators in sink faucets and showerheads.

• Reduce lighting. Turn lights off when not in use.

• Wrap hot water tank with jacket insulation.

• Replace air filters regularly.

• Seal off unused areas.

• Turn off machines, equipment, electronics when not in use.

• Shade sun-exposed windows with window coverings, awnings, trees, bushes.

• Keep exterior doors closed as much as possible.

• Provide incentives for household or business associates to become energy conscious.

• Repair leaky faucets.

Water Heaters

• You can save more than 10% on your water-heating bill by turning down your water heater from the standard 140° to 130°.

• To extend your water heater's life and increase energy efficiency, drain it every six months to remove lime deposits and sediment.

• Install flow-restricting showerheads. You can reduce hot water usage by up to 50% without affecting shower pressure.

• Repair leaky faucets. A leak that fills a coffee cup in 10 minutes wastes 3,200 gallons of water a year.

Saving Money on Gasoline

• Obey the speed limit. (This may save you money in more ways than one!)

• Use cruise-control when it is safe to do so.

• Avoid rapid acceleration and braking.

• Keep tires properly inflated.

• Limit the use of the air conditioner.

• Do not carry unnecessary weight.

• Have your vehicle tuned-up regularly.

• Do not overfill the gas tank.

Check back regularly for new
energy saving tips, recipes and advice
on how to get the most from your
home fuel source!

Today's Weather

A Letter From Don Thacker

Dear Customer,

Well we've made it through another winter. You have seen the price you pay for a comfortable home rise considerably this season. Some of you have taken that in stride, however most of us need to be more concerned about the cost of that comfort. Along these lines, I would like to speak to some issues you may have.

Research surveys tell us that many of you believe we make more money as a result of higher prices. Others believe we wait to make deliveries when prices are highest. Some others of you may be actively looking to mitigate that cost by finding another fuel source. Needless to say, price spikes cause much speculation and consternation.

Let us make one thing very clear. We do not make more during spikes and we do not wait for higher prices to make deliveries. Those who make the most money are those who are smart or lucky enough to have supplies secured before prices rise. However, the same would have lost money had the price dropped.

We generally run a scheduled route system for "will call" customers and computer generated routes for those many of you who are on "keep full" status. Our computerized degree-day system generates delivery tickets based on prior deliveries and area temperatures. So we deliver based on need.

All consumer energy (electricity, heating oil, propane, natural gas and gasoline) prices are set on the open commodities market. The biggest influence, by far, is the price of crude oil. The buyers of crude and gas liquids are affected by everything from weather to anything that may interrupt the crude supply. Several of the main reasons for this winters price spike was an unusually cold winter(15% to 35% colder than the last several years) an oil strike in Venezuela and on going issues in the middle east.

The difference in our (Central's) purchase cost and our selling price is our margin; but that is not our profit. From that margin; we pay wages, insurance, truck maintenance, general overhead and the wholesale price of the particular product concerned.

Based on the US Department of Energy sources, the cost of 1 million BTU's of electricity is 190%($23.55) higher than propane($12.39). Heating oil is steady performer, from the same USDE source, after adjusting for inflation,and is the same price as in the 1950's. The same cannot be said of milk, apples, chicken or white bread.

More than a few things to think about but all valid. Depending on your particular wants and needs we at Central Oil are always prepared to serve you in any way we can. We work hard to have a ready supply of product at fair prices and want to serve you. We encourage you to get on a "keep full" status and choose a budget option to help stabilize your monthly cost.

As usual there is more information available at the US Department of Energy website and you can call us about your energy concerns, budget plans, products and services.
We look forward to serving you.

Sincerely,
Don Thacker
President, Central Oil of Virginia