SAVE MONEY BY FOLLOWING THESE SIMPLE ENERGY SAVING TIPS!

• The best time to schedule routine maintenance checks are in the spring and fall seasons, before extreme temperatures strike.
• Consider investing in a ‘zoned system,’ which is controlled by multiple thermostats in multiple zones. That way you no longer have to pay to heat or cool areas in your home that are rarely used, which can lower your utility costs drastically.
• Invest in some black-out curtains and make sure to close them on the south- and west-facing sides of your home during daylight hours.
• Invest in programmable thermostats, which can reduce heating costs by about 35 percent and cooling costs by 25 percent, according to the Department of Energy.
• Change your filters in your heating/cooling system as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Consider installing a whole-house fan that uses cool air in the evening to cool the entire house and push hot air out of the attic.
• Plant tall, fast growing trees on the south side of your house.
• Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house.
• Check around doors and windows for leaks and drafts. Add weather-stripping and caulk any holes you see that allow heat to escape in the winter. Make sure doors seal properly. Doing this simple step can save you 10 percent or more on your energy bill.
• If your windows leak badly, consider replacing them with newer, more efficient ones. It may be costly at first, but in the long run will save you money and keep you more comfortable in extreme temperatures.
• Replace standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
• Unplug electronics, battery chargers and other equipment when not in use. When combined, these small items can use as much power as your refrigerator.
• Keep windows and doors leading outside shut.
• Wash clothes in cold water. About 90 percent of the energy use in a clothes washer goes to water heating.
• Make sure when you run your dishwasher or clothes washer that they’re fully loaded. It takes the same amount of energy to run a full load as it does a partial load.
• If the house is empty most of the day, consider setting the temperature manually to 78 degrees while you’re gone in summer or spring. If you’re traveling, consider turning it off all together. If you travel during winter months, you’ll want to set the temperature to at least 50 degrees to keep pipes from freezing and potentially bursting while you’re away. Opening cabinets under sinks will also help prevent this.
• Never put lamps, TV sets and other heat-generating gadgets beneath a wall-mounted thermostat.
• Close fireplace dampers.
• If you have a mechanical air filter or HEPA filter inside your heating and cooling system, have an air conditioning and heating technician replace the filter annually.
• Leaves and other debris may hinder the efficiency of your air conditioning unit, so make it a habit to clear it regularly. You should also prune any nearby trees or hedges and keep the grass mowed around the outside unit.
• Treat the area around your outdoor unit for fire ants, as needed. Ants commonly build mounds inside condensers and can cause your air conditioning to shut down.
• Unplug every unnecessary appliance and electronic. Include small electronics like coffee pots, digital clocks, and cell phone chargers, which all drain energy when plugged in. Make sure to turn off your computer while it’s not in use.
• Insulate your attic. In an older home, this can be the most cost-efficient way to cut home heating costs.
• If you have ceiling fans, use them. If you don’t have ceiling fans, consider investing in floor fans or window fans to help cool off during warmer seasons.
• During the winter months, leave blinds and curtains open during the day to let the sun in.

Choose energy-efficient appliances. They save you money and they’re good for the environment because they use less energy.