Keep your cool when it's hot and stay warm when it's cold!

• Kick it up a degree. When you're air conditioning, set your thermostat at 78. Anything lower will increase your cost by approximately 5% for every degree below 78. And if you're going to be away from home, try setting your thermostat even higher. In the winter, set the temperature at 68. Your heating cost will increase 3% for each degree above 68 degrees.

• High tech thermostats. Programmable thermostats can save you money and energy any time of the year. For instance, in the winter you can program the thermostat to run cooler at night and warmer during the day. Interested? Talk to your heating and air conditioning contractor for a programmable thermostat designed just for heat pumps.

• Make sure the lights are all off when the air conditioner is on. It's always a good idea to turn off unused lights -- you'll save energy and money. But it's especially smart when it's hot outside. Lights, appliances and tools generate heat and make your air conditioner work harder -- and that costs you money.

• Keep it indoors. Whether you're heating or cooling, you don't want your energy going out the door. Caulk and weather-strip around doors and window frames. Closely check any area where pipes go from the outside of your home to the inside, especially plumbing pipes. And if you have operable storm windows, make sure those are shut, too.

• Shopping for a new water heater?  Make sure you find one that meets the energy right guidelines found at www.energyright.com. Choose a model with high insulation R-values and a warranty of at least 10 years. Look for new technologies such as heat recovery units and heat pump water heaters that offer dramatic savings over standard electric water heaters.

• Down the drain. It's a great idea to drain a gallon of water through the valve at the bottom of your water heater once a year. Draining removes the sediment that collects in the bottom of your tank. If left unattended, the sediment can cause leaks to develop.

• Why are you heating that water? If your house is going to be empty for an extended length of time, turn your water heater off. After all, why should you spend money heating water that no one will use?

• Install low-flow shower heads. You can reduce your water use by 50%. And you probably won't even notice the difference.

• Use a fast spin speed to extract as much water as possible from your clothes when washing and drying. This will reduce the amount of time your clothes have to spend in the dryer.

• Using a dryer that senses when your clothes are dry  will save energy and extend the life of your clothes. This type of dryer can save 10-15% of the energy needed to dry clothes. Also make sure the dryer is vented to the outside and not under the floor or the attic.

• Make sure your dryer vent seals tightly when the dryer is not in use. If the flapper stays open, cold air from the outside comes into your home through the dryer.

• Read your labels. Hot water isn't always your best washing option. Many fabrics do best in cold water. And you can always rinse in cold water, even if you wash with hot.

• Replace your fireplace screen with glass doors. They're safer and they reduce the amount of heat that escapes through the chimney from your home. Consider saving your fireplace for special occasions -- it might be pretty, but it sends your heated air right up the chimney. After a fire is completely exhausted, don't forget to close the damper.

• Dry out. Attics and crawl spaces should be well ventilated to reduce moisture build up. Under the house, install a vapor barrier by covering about 80% of the ground in the crawlspace with 6 mil plastic, leaving several feet around the perimeter exposed.

• Check your ducts. Leaky ductwork often accounts for 10-30% of your total heating and cooling costs. And if you're losing 20% of your total airflow due to leaks, the efficiency of your cooling and heating system can drop by 50%. For tips on improving your ductwork, visit www.energyright.com.

• Don't rush. If you have to buy a new appliance -- like a water heater -- don't panic and buy the first one you see. Remember, this is an appliance you'll be living with for a while. Take your time to make a smart choice. In the long run, a few extra hours won't make that big a difference.

• Insulate your outlets. Believe it or not, those tiny holes in your electrical outlets let cold air into your home. You can remove the outlet covers and insert specially designed insulation pads underneath. Also, put insulating plugs in all outlets that aren't in use.

• Plant a tree. Mature shade trees not only look beautiful, they can also cut your cooling bills. Check with a local nursery to find out which trees are best for your area and then plant them around your home, especially on the southern and western sides.

• Switch on the compact fluorescents. Make the switch from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescents. They use 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer. That adds up to more light for less money.

• Chill out. Let cooked foods cool to room temperature before putting them in the refrigerator. Hot foods -- and their containers -- will raise the temperature in the fridge, making it work much harder. But be careful not to leave food out too long, or it will spoil. Follow the recipe instructions.