• Thermostats should be set at the highest comfortable temperature -- 76 degrees or higher -- and kept there. Each degree a thermostat is raised can save up to three to four percent on the cost of operating an air conditioner.

• Clean or change air conditioner filters monthly. The flow of air is the key to cooling, so don't make your system work harder than it has to. Also, make sure that air vents are clear of furniture or other objects that might slow down the flow of air.

• Shut the door or at least try to minimize the number of times at least try to minimize the number of times that doors to the outside are opened and closed. Each time you open the door cold air enters the house. • Cook meals and dry clothes during the cooler times of the day.

• Use a microwave oven to cook. A microwave oven cooks up to 75% faster and saves up to 70 percent of the energy used by a conventional oven.

• Encourage children to use energy wisely.

• Your house won't warm up any faster if you raise the thermostat setting.

• Don't let heat go up the chimney. Make sure the fireplace flue is closed when you are not using it.

• Use fans to keep air moving. A ceiling fan uses about as much electricity as a light bulb -- far less than an air conditioner.

• If your heating system has a pilot light turn it off during the summer. A pilot light typically costs $3-$5 per month to keep lit so why not turn it off when you aren't using it.

• Have your heating and or cooling system tuned and inspected by a service professional. Losses from a poorly maintained system accumulate over time – Sometimes at a rate of 1-2% each year.

• Make sure that your wall and attic are properly insulated. Adding batts of fiberglass insulation in your attic is one of the most cost effective savings measures and one that you can do yourself.

• Leaks develop in all air ducts over time. Sealing these leaks in ducts can reduce heating costs by up to 20% with reductions of 10% common!

• A programmable thermostat lets you easily lower the thermostat during periods when no one is home, as well as lower the temperature overnight without having to freeze in the morning while waiting for the heat to rise. You might save as much as 20% on your heating costs and recover your investment in the first year.

• Hot water heating systems use a network of pipes to distribute heat through your house. Uninsulated pipes waste energy. Wrapping pipes that are readily accessible with insulation is easy to do and fairly inexpensive. Pipe insulation made of fiberglass or foam can be found in all building supply stores. Use insulation with a wall thickness of 3/4 in for fiberglass and 1/2 in for foam.

• Single pane windows are inefficient. Replacing them with energy-efficient windows is a major investment, but in colder climates the heating savings can be considerable.

• Caulk windows and doors to prevent drafts.

• Electric outlets let cold air into the house. Remove the outlet covers and insert special insulation underneath. Use special insulating plugs in all outlets that are not being used.

• Use an exhaust fan to blow hot air out of your kitchen while cooking. The savings in your cooling costs far outweigh the electricity use of the fan.

• A breeze on a summer day can be enough to keep you cool. Instead of turning the air conditioner on, open doors and windows on opposite sides of the house for cross ventilation.

• Avoid activities that add heat or humidity to your home, particularly during the hottest parts of the day or limit them to times when nobody is home. For example, turn on your dishwasher as you leave the house or let dishes air dry rather than use the dishwasher's heater.

• Plant shade trees to block the heat from the sun. As the trees grow, they can dramatically cut your cooling bills.

• Close drapes and shades on windows during the day to keep heat from the sun out of your house. (Particularly on windows with an eastern and western exposure). In the evening opening drapes and shades lets heat escape through the windows.

• Consider using a dehumidifier instead of turning on the air conditioning. You will be comfortable at much higher temperatures if you reduce the humidity.

• Whole house fans can often be used in the evening instead of the air conditioner. The electricity consumption of the fan is much less than that of the air conditioner.

• Use an attic fan to get rid of the heat build-up in your attic. Heat from your attic eventually finds its way into your home.

• Don't let a room air conditioner bake in the sun. Room air conditioners work best when kept cool. Installing the unit in a north-facing wall is ideal. Another option is to take advantage of shade from trees.

• Seal any gaps along the sides of your room air conditioners with foam insulation. Your air conditioner needs to work much harder if the cool air is escaping.

• Turn off lights. This energy saving measure has been around since Edison first turned a light on, and it's as effective as ever. Try motion sensors that turn lights off automatically when everyone leaves a room.

• Timers that automatically turn lights on and off can reduce your energy use and at the same time increase safety by making a house seem occupied even when people are away.

• Keep fixtures and bulbs clean. Dirt, along with being unsightly, can absorb as much as 50% of the light. • Consider the cost of lighting your home. Do you realize that the money you spend on light bulbs is probably only 5-10% of the total cost? The other 90-95% is the cost of electricity to run those bulbs. That's why you should look for more efficient rather than cheaper light bulbs, and that's why compact fluorescent lights are so appealing.

• Use one bulb instead of multiple bulbs whenever possible. A single 100 watt incandescent bulb produces the same amount of light as two 60 watt bulbs and it uses 20% less energy.

• Do you have light bulbs that are difficult to get to and a real pain to change? Long-life incandescent bulbs last two to three times longer than a standard bulb and compact fluorescent lamps last up to ten times longer. • Light colored walls and surfaces reflect light while dark colors absorb light. The same light fixture in two different rooms will provide different levels of light on a reading surface.

• Translucent lamp shades provide more light to a room than solid colored shades. • Use dimmers or three-way incandescent bulbs to control the amount of light that you need in a room. Dimming the lights to half the illumination cuts energy consumption almost in half.

• Turn off lights when nobody is home. You can use a timer to ensure that you don't forget to do so. • Instead of elaborate outside lighting, try accenting walkways and drives. This will save energy and provide safe light for people walking in hazardous winter conditions.

• When unplugging lights, always pull on the plug and not the cord. Over time pulling on the chord will damage it and create a hazard.

• That halogen torchier was cheap and attractive; but did you know you could be spending 2-3 times the purchase price PER YEAR in electricity costs, while the lamps have been shown to be fire hazards?

• Use daylight whenever possible, rather than turning on redundant overhead lighting.