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Save energy and money—and be more comfortable—all year long. Use these tips to make quick improvements or to plan a long-term energy strategy.

• If your heating system is more than 10 years old, replacing it with an ENERGY STAR® unit could save up to 30% in energy costs per year.
• Holiday lights using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) use one-tenth the energy of typical mini-lights and are cooler, which reduces fire risk.
• Seal air leaks before installing insulation to ensure that you get the best performance from the insulation.
• A dehumidifier can greatly add to your electric bill. Make sure you have the appropriate sized dehumidifier for your home and if replacing an older model, be sure to look for a dehumidifier that has earned the ENERGY STAR® to save the most energy and money.
• Consider installing a ceiling fan. If you already have one, make sure to change the airflow on your ceiling fan. Make sure you change the direction of airflow on your ceiling fan. In the winter, let the fan push warm air toward the floor and in summer, switch the direction and draw air upward, cooling the room and ensuring constant airflow.

• Spring-cleaning involves making sure all the fans in your home are working properly and are dust-free. Regularly wash or replace filters.
• In preparing for the summer, consider investing in some insulated, thermal-backed drapes for your windows to keep heat at bay during hot summer days.
• When dust and pet hair build up on your refrigerator’s condenser coils, the motor works harder and uses more electricity. As part of your spring-cleaning routine, make sure the coils are cleaned and air can circulate freely.
• Doing some spring cleaning in your basement? Make sure to have a look at your foundation walls. If you have an unfinished basement or crawlspace, check for air leaks by looking for spider webs. If there’s a web, there’s a draft. A large amount of heat is also lost from an un-insulated basement.
• Schedule a pre-season check up of your central air conditioning cooling system to make sure it is operating at peak efficiency. If you have central air conditioning, keep your thermostat at 78 degrees. You can also save approximately an additional six to seven percent off your cooling costs for each degree above 78. If you are in the market to replace your old central air conditioner, make sure to look for a new ENERGY STAR® qualified model, which can reduce your cooling costs by 20 percent.

• Close window shades, drapes and blinds during the day.
• Find and seal air leaks that cause drafts and make your cooling system work overtime. When remodeling choose ENERGY STAR® qualified windows to replace older models.
• Remember to turn the fan off when you leave the room as a ceiling fan cools you—not the room.
• Keep central and room air conditioner units at highest temperature that’s comfortable. A suggested temperature range for summer is between 74ºF - 78ºF.
• Turn your air conditioner off when not at home. Use a timer or programmable thermostat to set it to turn on an hour before coming home.

• Check your insulation - especially your attic. By increasing and filling gaps in insulation in older homes you keep your home warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and save money all year round.
• Change out your traditional light bulbs to ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs which use 75% less energy, produce 75% less heat, and last up to 10 times longer than standard lighting.
• If you’re renovating or doing home improvement projects and considering purchasing new appliances, always look for the ENERGY STAR® label on new appliances. These products are more energy efficient and can help reduce your energy costs.
• Schedule a checkup of your heating system. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune’sup of your heating system can improve efficiency and comfort. This is also a good time to change the air filter, which results in better system performance.
• Check the air filter on your heating system regularly and replace if dirty. A dirty filter will make the system work harder – wasting energy.