No matter where you live, keeping your house warm (or cool) costs money. The Department of Energy says heating or cooling your house or apartment typically eats up 56% of your utility bill. If you’re interested in shaving dollars off your utility bills, it’s good to know there are ways to save money all year round.
Start saving with a home energy audit. An audit is like taking your home’s temperature. It can help you find out where you’re wasting energy and check how well your heating and cooling systems work. You can use the do-it-yourself energy audit tool on the Department of Energy website at hes.lbl.gov. Check with your power company to see if they offer free or low-cost audits. If you want a more comprehensive audit, you can hire a specialist.