Insulate your water heater to prevent unnecessary use of energy to reheat water. Set the water heater temperature to about 115-120 degrees for maximum efficiency.

• Heating: The best way to save money on your energy bill is to ensure that your heating system is working at its maximum efficiency. Unfortunately, gas furnaces that were made prior to 1977 probably only run at about 50-60 % efficiency. However, a new one runs at about 97% efficiency and can cut heating costs up to one half. So, if your furnace is an older model, this might be the best time to invest in a new one. A furnace with an electric heat pump is said to be the most efficient and can cut electricity use up to 40%.

Have your furnace serviced annually to make sure everything is working properly. Change the filter monthly and have the ductwork cleaned professionally every five years. Vacuum heater vents regularly as well. If you heat with gas, periodically check for small gas leaks around the gas pipe, by squirting soapy water on the connections and then looking for bubbles.

According the Consumer Energy Center, “it takes less energy to warm a cool home than to maintain a warm temperature all day long.” With this in mind, it is better to set your thermostat lower at night and when you’re away than to try to maintain an average temperature all the time. You can manually adjust the thermostat, or you can install a setback thermostat that is programmable. In climates where outside temperatures dip below freezing, experts recommend maintaining an inside temperature up to at least 65 degrees to prevent frozen pipes. Properly maintaining the temperature in your home can result in a savings of 20 to 75%.

Another way to improve the heating efficiency of your house is to reverse the rotation of your ceiling fans. In the summertime, the cool draft from the fans is nice, but in the winter is better to circulate the cooler air below up into the warmer air above, especially in rooms with very high ceilings.