As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. Using a programmable thermostat can save you about $150 every year in energy costs according to ENERGY STAR. Sealing and insulating your home can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20% — and sometimes much more. Dirty air filters can slow down air flow and make your system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. Be sure to check your air filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). Planting trees around your home can also provide shade and thus lower air-conditioning needs.

For more information visit
www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_hvac www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?genericContentID=90975