Naturalpath

Typically, 45% of your utility bill goes for heating and cooling. Heating and cooling systems can often be seen as the most cumbersome place to start when trying to save money, but by combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with appropriate insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can cut your energy use for heating and cooling, and reduce environmental emissions, from 20% to 50%. Embrace these tips from The U.S. Department of Energy and local energy companies as a whole-house approach.

• Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
• Conserve with a programmable thermostat: It will automatically adjust the temperature while you're asleep or away, saving you money. You can save as much as 20% on your heating bill.
• Lower your thermostat:  Set your thermostat at 68 degrees. Each degree higher will use 3% more energy. Lower your thermostat when leaving home- you'll use much less energy to heat the house up when you return.
• Install a new energy-efficient heating system: For natural gas heated homes, today's high-efficiency furnaces save $70-120 annually when they replace a 15-year or older furnace with a standing pilot. For electric heated homes, replacing an electric strip heating furnace with a new ENERGY STAR(r) heat pump can save up to 40% on your winter heating bill.
• Install additional attic insulation: 10-12 inches of insulation in the attic is what is recommended. Adding insulation to your attic is one of the most cost-effective measures you can do. The average 15-year old home needs 5-10 additional inches of insulation.
  
• Seal and repair duct leaks: Leaky ducts in the average home allow 25-30% of heating to escape. A duct system diagnostic inspection and testing can show you areas of needed repair. Call your local energy company.
• Replace lightbulbs with energy efficient bulbs