Tips to Save

Cooling and heating your home make up more than half of your home’s energy use. If you’re looking for ways to save, our tips can help you make a big impact.

1. Maintain your furnace and boiler. Clean or replace your air filters at least every three months.
2. Get a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs and most work with WIFI and apps to give you control of your thermostat when you’re not home. Learn more about rebates on smart thermostats.
3. Thermostat settings. Install a smart thermostat and set it at 68 degrees Fahrenheit or lower during the winter, and 75 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in the summer.
4. Upgrade your insulation. According to ENERGY STAR, the attic is usually where you can find some of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home. We offer rebates for attic insulation, basement insulation, exterior wall insulation and rim joist insulation.
5. Use insulated drapes. Install insulated drapes or blinds on your doors and windows. In the winter, keep the drapes and blinds on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce chill and drafts.
6. Close your fireplace damper. Keeping the damper open is like having a window open during the winter.
7. Upgrade your heat pump. Think about installing a more-efficient heat pump with an efficiency rating of at least SEER 16. If you have baseboard electric heaters, consider replacing them with an air source heat pump or a ductless heat pump. Learn more about our rebates on HVAC systems and heat pumps.
8. Keep the Air Flowing. Make sure your rugs, drapes, or furniture are not blocking air flow to cooling registers.
9. Shade your A/C Unit. An air conditioning unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun. Upgrading? We offer a room A/C rebate.
10. Replacing old units. If you have old room A/Cs, replace them with new, replace them with new, ENERGY STAR® window units or consider a very efficient (and quiet) mini-split heat pump. We have a rebate on mini-split heat pumps to help you save.
11. Seal Hidden Leaks.  Air can leak out of your home around windows, doors, skylights, and other openings.  If you add up all the hidden air leaks in your home, they can equal a hole the size of an open window! To maximize your home’s efficiency, seal all the gaps where air can leak out. We offer an air sealing rebate.
12. Add shade. Close blinds and curtains on the south and west facing windows to block out summer sunlight. To add more shade, plant trees to shield your windows or move container trees and plants in front of windows.
13. Add tinted window film. Tinted window film helps reduce solar heat gain during the summer and will keep furniture and carpets from fading.