Energy efficiency is a hot topic today. Reducing your home’s energy consumption has been identified as the #1 way to reduce monthly expenses. In addition, using less energy is one of the best ways to reduce our impact on the environment.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce energy consumption is to simply turn the thermostat back a few degrees (or the opposite if you live in a warmer climate). According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, the average household can save approximately 3% on their energy bills for each degree turned down on the thermostat. To put this in perspective, a three degree reduction on your thermostat will save $20 on a $200 heating or cooling bill. Over the course of a year this can add up to almost $250!

Additionally, turning back the heat or air conditioning when you are not at home can save considerable amounts on your energy costs. There are many types of easily installed digital thermostats available at your local home improvement center or neighborhood hardware store that can help with this. These thermostats can be set to automatically lower the thermostat to a reasonable temperature when you leave for work in the morning, and raise it back up just before you get home. You can also set these programmable devices to lower the heat while you are sleeping comfortably under your covers at night. A common misconception is that when you reduce the thermostat for only a few hours it will take more heat to bring your home back up to the desired temperature. This is not true. You will save money and fuel because your heating system will not have to keep your home as warm. You will use less energy overall even when you warm up your house from a cooler temperature.

If your home features multiple heating zones or thermostats, you should also strive to keep the temperatures lower in unused potions of the house. If you only use the family room or dining room once in a while, keep the temperature lower to prevent wasting money heating unused space.

Making the extra effort to use your home’s heating or cooling energy in a more efficient manner will save you considerable amounts of money over the course of a year. You can also consider yourself part of the growing environmental movement, as using less energy means less human impact on the local environment.

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