Tips to Use All Year Long

-Keep your refrigerator and freezer full. That way they don’t warm up as fast when you open the door and they have to work less. Just don’t keep the door open too long when deciding what of all that food you want to eat.
-Plant trees in the yard. They shade in the summer and break cold winds in the winter.
-Clean the lint filter of your dryer after every load.
-Close doors and heating/cooling vents in rooms that you aren’t using.
-Unless a recipe tells you otherwise, before putting hot food in the refrigerator, cool it to room temperature.
-Defrost manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers when the frost is 1/4" thick.
-Dry multiple loads of laundry immediately after one another. You’ll use less energy because the dryer is already heated. Dishwashers use less water than hand washing dishes. Let the dishes air dry to save even more.
-If you’re away from home for more than a few days, turn down the water heater.

Tips for Winter

-Let natural sunlight warm up the house by opening curtains, blinds, etc.
-Caulking the inside of window frames and doors for better insulation.
-Move furniture around so you sit near interior walls.
-Since exterior walls and older windows are likely to be drafty, by not sitting near the draft you’ll feel less need to set the thermostat higher.
-Consider a mini split system if the heating is uneven throughout the house. It allows you to control the temperature in individual rooms or spaces, it's easy to install, and is energy efficient to save energy costs.
- If you have a fireplace, keep the damper closed when it is not in use. Close the doors leading into the room when a fire is kindled and lower the thermostat temperature. If you never use it, seal the flue.

Tips for Summer

-Line dry clothes instead of using the drying machine.
-To naturally cool the house, keep blinds, drapes or shades closed during the day.
-Install a whole-house fan (in the attic). It draws cool air into the home through the windows while forcing hot air out through attic vents. Use it after sundown when the outside temperature is cooler, and in the early morning. This helps to affordably cool the house, by reducing air conditioning use.
-Take a advantage of lthe sunlight during the day. Naturally heat your home by opening curtains on south-facing windows during the day. Close curtains at night to protect your home from losing heat through the windows.