Heating and Cooling
 This is the biggie. Heating and cooling systems are the biggest energy users in almost every home. The two main ways to combat energy waste here are: (i) tighten up your house so it doesn't leak out all the air you payed to heat or cool; and (ii) make sure your heating and/or cooling system runs as efficiently as possible.
There are steps you should take to make sure your air conditioner, whether it's central air or a room model, runs at peak efficiency..
If you have an older central air conditioner, you might be able to reduce the energy you use to cool your home by 20-50% by taking the following steps and installing a new, more efficient model.
Room air conditioners have become considerably more efficient, which means you can actually save money by replacing your old room air conditioner with one of the new efficient models, especially in this era of rising electricity prices. How to choose the right one?.
If you make some (or all!) of the following changes, you may not even need to turn on your air conditioner more than a few days a year..
Three different types of fans can help you cool your home in different ways: ceiling fans, window fans, and whole-house fans. If you live in a cooler area, you may be able to do without air conditioning entirely just by using these and other tips on keeping your home cool.
Your heating system needs to be looked at by a trained technician regularly to keep it running efficiently and safely. Here is some background info to help you look like you know what s/he is talking about.
No matter what kind of heater or furnace you have, you can help it work more efficiently.
If your home is average, you lose one-fourth of the energy you use to heat and cool it right out the windows.
If you want to be scientific about sealing the leaks in your home, you could have an energy audit done on your house.
Look, one of the best ways to save on your heating and cooling bills is to aim for a mild climate inside year 'round.
Let's say you need to replace the regular windows.
Here are some tips for saving money by keeping your exterior doors as weathertight as possible.
Sunlight shining through a window can heat up the part of the room it hits nicely--just ask any cat.
Fascinating energy fact: around 1/3 of a home's total heat loss usually happens through windows and doors.
Insulation in the walls, probably the most important guard against heat loss or gain, is hard to install after a house is built.
I don't care where you live, North or South. Getting rid of the leaks in your home will save you money on either your heating or your cooling bill. Or both.
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