Heating & Insulation

Heating and air conditioning accounts for half or more of the utility costs in most homes. Investing in high efficiency heating systems and increasing insulation can greatly reduce theses costs. A high efficiency furnace can use up to 40% less energy than an older model, and newer air conditioners can use as much as 60% less electricity than older units. If you require both heating and air conditioning, then you should look into a heat pump system.
If you live in an area that gets quite cold in the winter, and you live in a house that is over 15 years old, then you probably could use more insulation. The easiest place to add insulation is the attic. You could try to do this yourself for cheap, and cut your heating costs by 15% or so. Adding insulation to walls and installing new windows can also reduce heating costs by a lot, but these improvements are so expensive that you’ll probably want to look into other things first.