Now is a great time to start saving energy! You can save on power use, save money on your electric bill, and still keep your home comfortable.

 Set your thermostat as low or high as comfortably possible. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the less your air conditioner has to work and the lower your overall electric bill will be. Clean or change your heater / air conditioner filter once a month or as needed. Also, these appliances should be serviced annually. Shade your air conditioner with a tree or a shrub to ease the strain.

 Make sure that the temperature next to your thermostat is similar to the rest of your home. Lamps and / or TV's placed next to a thermostat can produce heat that is sensed by the thermostat causing the air conditioner to run longer than necessary. Adjust your thermostat at night or when your home is unoccupied. It is cheaper to re-heat or cool your house than to leave them running all day. Insulate your home to prevent loss of heating / cooling. Use window coverings to help regulate the temperature in your home. Open them in the winter and close them in the summer.

 Install an insulating jacket around your water heater. Turn the temperature of your water heater down to 110 to 120 degrees. Buy energy efficient appliances with the Energy Star sticker. Remember to turn off appliances and lights when not in use. Lights produce heat and unnecessary heat makes your air conditioning work harder than it has to. Use ceiling fans to increase air circulation in the rooms of your home and check to make sure the blade rotation is pulling the air in the right direction-up for summer, down for winter.

 Avoid overloading your refrigerator. Wash and dry full loads of laundry, and use only the cold or warm setting. Vent your clothes-dryer to the outside. Clean your refrigerator condenser regularly. Set your thermostat at 68 F in the winter and at 78 F in the summer. Check weather stripping around doors and windows. Do not run kitchen or bathroom vent fans longer than necessary. And use energy-saving light bulbs wherever possible.

Seal Up Your Home

 Insulate! Check the attic, outside walls, walls next to unheated areas, floors above unheated areas, foundation walls. We recommend R-38 (about 12 inches) in ceilings and R-19 (about 6 inches) in floors over unheated spaces. Insulate ducts where they run through cold areas. Install storm windows and doors or use plastic sheeting. Install new weatherstrip and caulk! Check for drafts around windows, door frames, foundation cracks, electrical outlets, etc.. Don't block radiators and vents (including cold air returns) with furniture, drapes or rugs. Insulated attics need proper ventilation so they can 'breathe'

Maintain Electrical Equipment

 Maintain your heating and cooling system by replacing air filters often and doing regular maintenance. Buy energy efficient appliances and use them efficiently. Clean dust and lint away from appliances (heating/cooling unit, refrigerators, hot water heaters, etc.) on a regular basis so the motors run more efficiently. When choosing new appliances, base your decision on what your needs are - don't buy something too big for your needs. Consider moving your extra refrigerator or freezer out of the garage to the basement and your appliance won't have to work so hard to stay cool. Make sure gaskets on the doors of refrigerators and stoves are tight.

Live An Energy-Efficient Lifestyle

 Turn off lights and appliances when they are not being utilized. Close vents in rooms that are not being used on a regular basis and close the door. Run full loads in dishwashers and washing machines. Choose stove burner to fit the size of the pan you are using.

During Cold Weather:

 Open window shades that receive direct sunlight during the day. Close shades at night. Set the thermostat at 68 degrees and lower the setting a few degrees at night, or when home is unoccupied. Wear layers of clothing and use extra blankets. Keep fireplace chimney dampers closed when not using the fireplace.

During Hot Weather:

 Leave window shades that receive direct sunlight down during the day. Try to use the oven, dishwasher and other appliances that produce heat during the late evening and early morning. Set the thermostat no lower than 78 degrees and turn it up a few degrees when the house is unoccupied. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. Keep fireplace chimney dampers closed.