Seven ways to use less energy and lower your heating costs!

• Check your heating and cooling ducts. If they leak, as much as 30 percent of your heat might be lost. You can cover accessible ducts with less than $100 worth of metal tape (a.k.a. “Foil Tape”) or mastic sealant.
• If it’s time to replace your top-loading washer, a front-loader will cost more, but will use a third to a half of the water, and less energy and detergent. Go with cold or warm water to save money.
• Change your furnace filters! And do it every 1-4 months, depending on the thickness of your filter (Every inch in thickness = 1 month of life). That will save you money on the system you have today. When the furnace needs replacing, consider an Energy-Star-certified model. It could cut power bills by more than $200 a year, per the Environmental Protection Agency
• Check the insulation in the attic. Floor insulation should stick up over the floor joists. If it’s below the joists, add more for energy saving.
• Turn the water heater down to 120 degrees to save on energy use. Insulate the pipes and the heater itself with an insulating blanket to reduce heat loss.
• Install a low-flow shower head and you’ll cut hot water use 25 percent.
• Turning the thermostat down when you are asleep or gone can save up to $200 a year. But a programmable thermostat will turn the heat back on before you wake up or get home. You won’t have an icy cold house.