SENIOR MOMENT: Winter heating costs expected to rise

By BETTY MUNSEY/Columnist

A retirement community in Lynchburg is trying to entice seniors to move to its location by offering warm surroundings, spacious apartments and a carefree lifestyle. Its advertisement’s headline in a senior newspaper says “are you prepared for soaring fuel prices this winter?  Are you spending too much time worrying about high fuel bills?  Leave your worries behind…come live with us.”
All of us are impacted by rising fuel costs whether it is with our home heating oil or gas in our vehicles. We received a notice from our local fuel oil provider with the following lead-in “…let’s be honest with each other; fuel prices have risen this past year.  It’s costing more to fill up the car’s gas tank, and it’s costing more to heat our homes.” As a plus for their faithful or new customers, they are offering a summer discount along with several other options for trying to keep oil prices low.
CNN reported on Aug. 15 that the Energy Information Administration expects consumers to pay $1,182 to heat their homes this year, which reflects an increase of 20 percent from last year.
District Three Governmental Cooperative’s August newsletter opens with the title “Potential Winter Heating Crisis.” Their highly competent staff proposes a variety of measures senior consumers might consider in these days of high fuel and utility prices. Some of their recommendations include the following: “Encourage seniors to develop a fallback plan in case they are unable to keep their homes warm, including an option to relocate temporarily if necessary. Distribute a list of energy-saving tips, and offer shut-down assistance where necessary. With assistance from the Advisory Council on Aging Services, develop a list of home owners who might have a room to rent out on a short-term basis to people in their community who must relocate due to the potential heating crisis.”
As an agency, it plans “to distribute public service announcements and newspaper articles to alert the public to this impending crisis. They also plan to send letters to churches, civic organizations, fire and rescue squads, senior citizen groups, and businesses to solicit donations, encourage adopt-a-client initiatives, assist with wood cutting, or other such assistance programs.”
Some emergency programs are available to eligible clientele through local departments of social service and District Three. Glenn Booker, advocacy services division director with District Three, reminds seniors that agencies are limited in what they can do, and he urges seniors to be prepared for higher heating costs. “Don’t freeze; ¬give us a call (800-541-0933) and we’ll try to help.”
Before the winter winds blow, here are some suggested actions that may reduce winter heating costs. Turn the thermostat down to 68 degrees or lower and layer on clothes. Use a programmable thermostat, which is available for $50 or less to preset your preferred temperatures. Clean your furnace, filters and chimneys before winter for maximum efficiency. The maintenance costs will be offset with lower energy bills later.
Shut-off unused rooms. Check for drafts around windows and doors and install or replace weather stripping as needed.  Preparing now will lead to a warmer winter and more money in your wallet.
A retired Extension agent, Betty Munsey lives and farms in Bland County.