Winter weather is slowly drawing its way into Madison and for many students living off-campus this can mean increased energy costs.

According to Jonathan Beers of Madison Gas & Electric, the easiest way for students to reduce energy costs is to turn down the temperature when sleeping or out of the home.

“The rule of thumb is if you dial back the temperature for 8 hours you save about 1 percent of your energy costs,” Beers said.

He added a lot of students and citizens already do this but tend to reduce the temperature less in the winter because of the catch-up heating period after increasing temperature.

“It takes time to catch back up but it really does save on costs,” Beers said.

According to Lori Wirth-Hammer, Madison Fire Department Public Information Officer, it saves to put on a sweater and turn down the heat in the winter.

Wirth-Hammer said when students move into off-campus residences they are used to having heating and possible fire safety issues handled for them.

“There’s a lag time for students to realize they have to take care of it,” Wirth-Hammer said. “It’s a learning thing and depending on where you move, you may have more responsibility with heating and possible fire safety issues.”

Beers said checking and replacing furnace heaters are negotiable between owners and tenants and should be done. Furnace filters should be changed in the beginning of seasons and checked monthly.

Beers also recommended another easy way to conserve on heating is to leave blinds and shades open during the day and then close them during the night.

University of Wisconsin senior Robert Wargolet III said he and his roommates never use heating facilities.

“Everyone in the apartment complex turns on the heat in the building and it comes into our place,” Wargolet said.

He added there are always people cooking, running the dishwasher or using computers in his apartment which provide heat.

Despite saving money, Wirth-Hammer pointed to safety issues associated with winter, such as the need for heating facilities to be inspected and kept clean.

“We recommend getting a professional to come, whether it’s the landlord’s responsibility or not, it’s really up to the person living there to say ‘hey this needs to get done,'” Wirth-Hammer added.

Wirth-Hammer stressed students should be aware of space heaters.

“It’s a good rule of thumb that a space heater requires space around it,” Wirth-Hammer said. “Keep them away from curtains, furniture or other combustibles.”

Wirth-Hammer said draping wet clothes over radiators and space heaters is not the way the manufacturer intended to use them and it creates a potential fire hazard.

“We in Madison have a history of reuse, reduce and recycle and that’s all well and good; but make sure what you’re using is working the way it’s supposed to,” Wirth-Hammer stressed.

According to Wirth-Hammer, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of fires caused by unattended candles. There has already been one candle-fire per month in 2004 with property damage in those fires totaling over $200,000.