Usually 43% of the average utility bill is due to heating and cooling systems. Sadly, through heating and cooling systems, each year the United States alone emits over 150 millions tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Regardless of your home's method or system of heating and cooling it can be improved, and you can save money by learning how to better maintain, update, and choose your home equipment. From home renovations to changing filters, everything helps.

10 Simple Tips

Replace your manual thermostat with a programmable one. This will reduce the frequency in which the system has to run, and it will better control the efficiency when it does.

Keep your thermostat at 72° F in the summer and 68° F in the winter. Each degree cooler or warmer can increase your energy usage by six to eight percent. Only adjust it when you need to.

Clean and maintain air filters at least once a month. Clean filters have less drag, and as such, the system does not have to work as hard as it would if the filter were dirty.

Make sure all baseboard heaters, radiators and vents are clean and able to flow easily.

Turn off all exhaust fans shortly after usage, don't leave them running long after you're done cooking or showering.

Keep blinds open during the day in winter to let in sunlight, and keep them closed at night to reduce chill from windows. During the summer use drapes to keep heat out.

Use fans instead of your air conditioning. If you can, fans use much less energy and still make the room feel four to six degrees cooler.

Make sure to fully shut windows and doors. During the winter consider using a trapper to keep heat from escaping from the base of doors.

Maintain the heating and cooling units. Clean your air conditioner's coils at the beginning of the cooling season. This extends the unit's lifespan and efficiency,