The climate control system accounts for about half of the energy used in a home, but there are opportunities to save throughout a typical household. Take a whole house approach to energy conservation and the savings will add up. Try implementing the following energy saving techniques to reduce your energy costs: Heating and Cooling Have your system maintained annually by a qualified technician. Control your thermostat setting. The temperature at which you set the thermostat will affect your energy savings. Consider installing a programmable thermostat. Ensure that your thermostat is located on an inside wall away from drafts and heat sources. In the summer, raise your thermostat setting. Ensure that your ducts are properly sealed. On sunny winter days, open blinds, shades, and curtains, especially if your windows face south, to help keep you warm. At night, close the blinds, shades, and curtains to help keep heat inside. In the summer keep heat out by closing window shades and blinds. It's helpful to keep windows closed to prevent hot air from blowing inside. Change the filters in your heating and cooling system regularly. Be sure that your fireplace has a tight fitting damper and keep it closed when the fireplace is not in use. Upgrade the attic insulation to R-30 and R-19 under the floor. Weather-strip doors and caulk windows. Ensure that your home has proper ventilation. Consider landscaping. The shading produced by properly placed trees and vines can reduce cooling cost. Water Heating Insulate hot water pipes. Use less hot water. Install low flow showerheads. Turn down the thermostat on your water heater to a temperature of 115 degrees. If you have a dishwasher, check to make sure that this lower temperature will clean the dishes properly or that the dishwasher has a booster heater. Insulate your water heater if it's an older unit and in an unconditioned space. Make sure leaky faucets are repaired. A drip can waste up to 48 gallons of water per week. If it's a hot water faucet that's leaking, you're probably losing over a tank of hot water per week. That's at least a couple of showers down the drain. Appliances and Lighting Use warm rather than hot setting when drying clothes. Wash clothes in cold water. Clean dryer filter after each load. Cook everything at once and use pots that fit the burners. Clean refrigerator coils annually. Let food cool before putting it in the refrigerator. Try the dollar bill test. To be sure your refrigerator and freezer door seals are airtight, check the seal on door gaskets by closing the door on a dollar bill. If it pulls out easily, consider a new door gasket. If you have an old refrigerator that you operate in the garage, consider eliminating its use. Run only full loads in the dishwasher and scrape dishes with cold water. Microwave when possible. Turn lights off when not in room. Use fluorescent or energy savings lights. If you are considering purchasing new appliances look at the EnergyGuide label. ENERGY STAR® is a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency that seeks to increase consumer awareness, interest and desire for energy efficient products.