- Block heat from rooms not in use.
- Turn down the heat while you are out of the house for long periods of time, and during the night throughout the winter season, 68 or 69 degrees would be sufficient.
- Ask your local home improvement store about the different products to place around your windows and window frames in the winter. Heat can be lost through cracks around the edges of your windows.
- Keep shades drawn in the day during hot seasons, especially if you are gone for the better part of the day. When you come home, the house will not be as hot. Then you can open the windows and let the evening breeze cool the house.
- Turn up the air conditioner in the evenings and open the windows.
- Wash full loads of laundry and keep the water no hotter than necessary to adequately clean and sanitize the load. Rinse clothes in cold/cool water.
- Let clothes dry in the dryer only part way. Hang them dry in one part of the house and put them away in an hour or so.
- Only run the dishwasher when it is full
- Turn down the thermostat on your hot water heater from 120 to 110 degrees F
- Energy efficient shower head attachments can be purchased that will reduce the amount of water flow and save heat.
- Limit water flow when washing dishes, brushing teeth, shaving or washing hair.
- Turn off electrical appliances and lights that are not being used. Turn off the television when it is not being watched.
- Plan long term for your home. Plan trees, shrubs, and bushes that will provide shelter for your home in the winter months and shade for your home in the summer months.
- Examine your phone bill (cell phone or land line), are there any features you are not using? Taking off unused features could save you money each month.
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