Free
• The U.S. Department of Energy estimates you can save around 10% a year on your heating and
cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours. You can do this
automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing an automatic setback or programmable
thermostat. Do it while you’re at work during the day or under the covers and night and you might not
even feel it.
• Shift your ceiling fan blades so that they move in a clockwise direction. Doing so will push hot air that
travels along the ceiling down towards the floor. You’ll automatically feel warmer.
• Clean out your gutters to prevent icicles from forming in cooler clients. That way, water will travel
down the roof and into the gutters instead of pouring onto your driveway and sidewalks where they
will create dangerous icy patches.
• Clear out the lint from the outside dryer vent. Also make sure that the cover closes completely.
• Roll up a rug or a towel and place it in front of all of your exterior doors. Doing so will help ensure cold
air stays outside and your heated air remains indoors.
Less than $100
• The average home spends $2,200 a year on energy bills, and nearly half of that goes to heating
and cooling. Homeowners can save about $180 per year by installing and setting programmable
thermostats and sticking to those settings.
• Buy a basic caulk gun ($20) and some caulk ($5 per tube) to fill in any gaps around windows, doors
and siding. If you have really leaky windows, pull off the molding and check around the gaps of the
window jam. A little insulating foam sealant ($5 per can) can help to seal up the gaps.
• For single-pane or older, leaky windows, consider using a plastic film window insulating kit. ($16 for a
5-window kit)
• If cold air rushes in from underneath your exterior doors, install a door threshold to fill in the empty
space. ($10-$35 each)
• For leaky fireplaces, insert a fireplace plug. As metal dampers corrode and warp over time, they do
not close tightly around their edges, allowing cold air to seep in and warm air from inside escape.
Installing a fireplace plug to close it off with a tight, energy-saving seal. (Cost: starting at $35)
Less than $500
• Have your utility company come out and do a home energy audit. It’s the first step to assessing how
much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home
more energy efficient. An assessment will show you problems that may, when corrected, save you
significant amounts of money over time. (Cost: about $200)
• Call in your HVAC contractor to clean, check and maintain your central heating and air system.
(Cost: $250)
