• Install Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs. They use 75% less energy.

• Buy EnergyStar appliances. They can cut energy bills
by 15-30%.

• Buy a programmable thermostat. It will automatically adjust your home’s temperature at certain times of day. In most homes, you can save about 2 percent of your heating bill for each degree that you lower the thermostat. Never turn your heat off completely, or so low that it’s a health hazard.

• Run the dishwasher only when it is fully loaded. Turn the heated drying selection off.

• Clean the coils on the back of the refrigerator and make sure the door seals are airtight. (Close the door on a piece of paper. You should feel tension when you pull it out.)

• Turn off the computer when not in use. It’s a myth that computers will wear out if turned on and off. You also will reduce your air conditioning needs because monitors generate a lot of heat.

• Use the “sleep” mode to power down home office equipment you’re not using.

• Schedule a professional home energy audit. Check if your utility company or local community organization offer this service. Otherwise, contact a local heating and air conditioning business

• Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible.

• Buy an efficient central air conditioner. A unit with a SEER 13 rating uses 25% less energy than a standard unit.

• Don’t buy a room air conditioner that’s too big for the area it’s supposed to cool. (For guidance, call 1-800-363-3732 and get a free Energy Savers booklet.)

• Clean or replace air-conditioner filters.

• Close window coverings during the day.

• Avoid hot showers, hair dryers, and baking (use a microwave!) to keep your home cooler.

• Set water heater at 120 degrees (warm setting).

• Cover water heater with an insulating blanket.

• Clean or replace furnace and heat-pump filters monthly or as needed.

• Caulk leaky windows and seal up the largest air leaks in your house.

• Properly insulate your attic.

• Close doors to rooms not in use.