It is important to know how much energy you are using and wasting.  Follow these simple tips to save money!

Calculate your heating costs

The US Department of Energy has developed a handy calculator dubbed "The Home Energy Saver(tm)" that you can use to find out how much energy you may be wasting.  Their website also includes up-to-date information on how you can save money, and with today's cooling costs; this is a must do!

Don't let the cold air escape

Find out where air is leaking out of your house.  The biggest culprits are doors, windows, fireplaces, and inefficient furnaces.  Use caulk, weather stripping, door sweeps, and any other means to seal out the drafty areas.  Evaluate the insulation in your home, a simple insulation upgrade will pay for itself alone in cooling costs.  A quick way to seal up leaky windows is to install shrink wrap,. Should you have an older, inefficient air conditioner, it may be time for a replacement.  Should your air conditioner be newer, make sure you have it cleaned and inspected by a professional every year to maintain optimum efficiency.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

Cooling equipment start up and shut down procedures require a lot of reason.  As such, it is more practical for temperatures that heat gradually improve efficiency.  Installing a programmable thermostat enables you to use this principle to save money and energy.  Set it to hotter temperatures at night and cooler temperatures when you wake up.  Your home will be cool only when you need it most, thus saving you money off of your energy bill.

Keep Temperatures Higher

Setting your thermostat a couple of degrees higher can make a sizable difference in your cooling costs.  For every degree you take the thermostat up you should notice around 3% savings on your electric bill.  We recommend indoor an indoor temperature setting at 75 degrees during waking hours and about 5+ degrees cooler when you're sleeping.  Set your  programmable thermostat and forget about the 70s.  Come spring you'll be satisfied with all the savings you acquired during the summer!

Use Ceiling Fans

Most fans have a switch that toggle between two directions.  When it's hot outside the paddle should be drawing the air downwards.