Lowering the Energy Use of Your Furnace or Boiler

• If your existing heating system is more than 15 years old, replace it with a new, more energy efficient model. Annual savings on a gas furnace can be as much as 35%!
• If you have older, single pane windows, you can greatly benefit by sealing them with 3M brand (or similar) window film.
• Invest in a yearly maintenance program. Proper maintenance is essential for peak efficiency.
• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable.
• Keep the temperature fairly constant, as frequent changes will use more energy. Setting back the temperature at night, however, is recommended.
• Clean or replace furnace filters once a month or as needed.
• Your Furnace or boiler should be professionally cleaned and tuned once a year.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed. Make sure they are not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
• Keep draperies and shades on south-facing windows open during the heating season to allow sunlight to enter your home; close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
• Close the door to an unoccupied room or area that is isolated from the rest of the house and turn down the thermostat or turn off the heat for that room or area. Make sure the room doesn't get so cold that the pipes freeze. And do not turn the heating off if it adversely affects the rest of your system. For example, if you heat your house with a heat pump, do not close the vents-closing the vents could harm the heat pump.
• Use kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans wisely. Turn these fans off as soon as they are no longer needed. In about one hour, these fans can pull out a house-full of warmed or cooled air.
• Check your ducts for air leaks. First look for sections that should be joined but have separated, and then look for obvious holes. Consult with a professional about repairing duct leaks. Safe duct repairs require a licensed heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning contractor.

Reducing Your Central Air Conditioner's Energy Use

• If your existing cooling system is more than 15 years old, replace it with a new, more energy efficient model. Annual savings on a central air conditioner can be as much as 20%!
• Just like the furnace, proper maintenance is essential for peak efficiency. Invest in a yearly maintenance program.
• Set your thermostat at 78°F or higher. Each degree setting below 78°F will increase your energy consumption by approximately 8%.
• Use bath and kitchen fans sparingly when the air conditioner is operating.
• Inspect and clean both the indoor and outdoor coils. The indoor coil in your air conditioner acts as a magnet for dust because it is constantly wetted during the cooling season. Dirt build-up on the indoor coil is the single most common cause of poor efficiency. The outdoor coil must also be checked periodically for dirt build-up and cleaned if necessary.
• Your air conditioning system should be professionally cleaned and tuned once a year.
• Check the refrigerant charge. The circulating fluid in your air conditioner is a special refrigerant gas that is put in when the system is installed. If the system is overcharged or undercharged with refrigerant, it will not work properly. You may need a service contractor to check the fluid and adjust it appropriately.
• Reduce the cooling load by using cost-effective conservation measures. For example, effectively shade east and west windows. When possible, delay heat-generating activities, such as dish washing, until the evening on hot days.
• Over most of the cooling season, keep the house closed tight during the day. Don't let in unwanted heat and humidity. If practical, ventilate at night either naturally or with fans.
• Try not to use a dehumidifier at the same time your air conditioner is operating. The dehumidifier will increase the cooling load and force the air conditioner to work harder.

Reducing Your Water Heater's Energy Use
Water heaters consume much of their energy just to keep a supply of hot water ready and waiting in the tank. The heat gradually leaks out of the tank until the heater turns on again to heat the water back up. To minimize this heat loss, ready-made kits for insulating water heaters and hot water pipes are available at hardware stores and building supply stores. Your utility company may also provide these at a discounted cost or offer a rebate on your purchase. Be careful not to cover the thermostat when insulating your water heater and always follow manufacturer's instructions. Lower the thermostats on your water heater to 120 °F.

Electric water heaters often have two thermostats-one for the upper heating element and one for the lower heating element. These should be adjusted to the same level to prevent one element from doing all the work and wearing out prematurely.

Here's some other ways to reduce your water heater's energy use:

• For electric water heaters, install a timer that can automatically turn the hot water off at night and on in the morning. A simple timer can pay for itself in less than a year.
• Install a heat trap above the water heater. A heat trap is a simple piping arrangement that prevents hot water from rising up in the pipes, thereby minimizing standby losses.
• Drain a quart of water from your hot water tank every 3 months. This will remove sediment that prevents heat transfer and lowers the unit's efficiency.