Your energy bill is one bill that you can control. With assistance from BlueStar Energy, you can save 10% - 50% each year by making smart energy choices.

Heating and cooling account for the biggest portion of your total energy bill. Your thermostat controls how much heating or cooling you use, and how high your energy bill will be. When you’re away or asleep, you should set your thermostat back to save money. If you don’t want to have to remember to do this, switch to a programmable thermostat. This lets you lower or raise the temperature of your home or business during periods when no one is around and can save as much as 20% on heating or 10% on cooling.

Change the set point temperature on the thermostat when people are around. Lowering the thermostat during the winter by 1°F can reduce heating energy usage by 1-3 percent. A setting of 68°F is recommended. Raising the thermostat during the summer by 6°F can save 10% on cooling.

In the summer, air conditioning is probably the biggest portion of your energy bill. Fans create a “wind chill” effect, allowing you to use your air conditioner less, while still feeling comfortable.

Check your air conditioner or furnace filters each month. A dirty filter causes your system to work harder (using more energy) to push air through to heat or cool your home. Clean filters will extend the life of your heater and air conditioner.

Don’t forget to turn off lights when you aren’t using them! Of all the energy it takes to light up one old-fashioned (incandescent) light bulb, 95% is lost as heat, while only 5% of the energy creates light. In the summer, this not only wastes energy and money, it also creates heat inside your home, causing you to use more air conditioning, increasing your energy bill even more.

The good news is that it’s easy to fix. New compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) use much less energy to create the same amount of light. CFLs cost more up front, but they last for about 7 years and save you money throughout those years. By changing the five most-used lights in your home, you’ll save more than $60 every year in energy costs.

Inadequate insulation and air leakage are the leading causes of energy waste in most homes. Insulation stops this waste by stopping the transfer of heat. In the winter, it helps keep the heat inside, and in the summer, it helps keep the heat outside. This reduces the number of times your heating or cooling systems need to cycle on, saving you energy and money.

It is possible to add insulation to almost any home, and insulation gives you the most noticeable effects – it saves you money and your home will feel more comfortable. Walls, ceilings, and floors will be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Insulation can also act as a sound absorber or barrier, keeping noise levels down.

Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during the winter can waste a lot of energy and increase your energy bill. One of the quickest ways to reduce the waste is to caulk and seal all seams, cracks and openings to the outside of your home. These can be hard to find and you may need the help of a professional. You probably know (and may be able to feel) air sneaking into your home around your windows and doors. But lots of air infiltrates through openings in the ceilings, walls and floors. The biggest holes are most often found in the attic and the basement. Caulk, spray foam, and weather stripping are the most common materials used for sealing up these holes. You can save 10% or more on your energy bill by reducing the air leaks in your home.