- Have your heating or cooling equipment checked each season by a qualified technician to make sure it is operating properly. Heating and cooling account for about half of the energy costs for the average home.
- Change air filters every month. Dirty filters can increase operating costs. Change your filter each time you pay your utility bill.
- Make sure an outside air conditioning unit or heat pump is not blocked by shrubbery, leaves or other objects.
- Make sure your central air conditioning system or window unit is properly sized for the space it is intended to cool. Improperly sized units use more energy than necessary.
- Set your hot water temperature at the “normal” setting— no higher than 120 degrees F. This can save up to 11 percent of your water heating costs
- Check weather stripping around doors and caulking around windows. Properly sealed doors and windows help prevent warm outside air from entering the home.
- Weather-strip around doors and windows. Seal cracks or crevices where two different building materials meet. It’s also a good idea to weather-strip between cooled and uncooled areas such as garages, basements and attic openings.
- Set the thermostat on the highest comfortable setting. Raising the temperature just 2 degrees can reduce cooling costs by as much as 5 percent.
- Close blinds, shades or drapes during the day.
- Make sure heating registers and draperies; furniture or rugs do not block vents. These vents should also be cleaned regularly with a vacuum or a broom.
- Make sure the attic is properly ventilated to relieve excess summer heat.
- Check to make sure your home is adequately insulated.
- Check your system’s ductwork to ensure it is well insulated.
- Add insulation or storm windows and doors to reduce unwanted cooling loss. Like other insulation, storm doors and windows quickly pay for themselves by reducing energy losses.
- Use fans to draw cooler air inside during
the night and to circulate air throughout your home during the day.
Ceiling fan blades should rotate clockwise in the summer months. - Save jobs that produce moisture—like mopping, dishwashing and washing clothes—for early morning or nighttime hours. The humidity from these activities can make homes uncomfortable.
- On hot days, cook outdoors, use a microwave oven, or prepare cold meals to avoid excess heat in the kitchen.