Most people would like to lower the heating and cooling expense from their home. Heating consumes 40% of your energy bill, while cooling uses about 12 to 15 percent of your utility bill. Here are some tips to save on your heating and cooling expense:

1. Check the reliability of your thermostat. Try placing a thermometer next to the thermostat, if they both match up to the same temperature then it is in good shape. Programmable thermostats help set the temperature according to the settings you program prefer and they are more energy efficient.
2. If you can adjust your thermostat accordingly, try to turn it off when no one is home.
3. Try warming yourself with sweaters, blankets, and layers if you can avoid turning on your heater.
4. Make sure your home is well insulated.  Check wall, ceiling, floor, and attic insulation to make sure heat is being detained in the winter, and heat is being released in the summer. You may have repair or replace the ducts or they might be consuming extra energy while providing insufficient heating and cooling.
5. Never turn your thermostat outrageously high or low to speed up the heating or cooling process. This will force your unit to work harder, stay on longer and use more energy.
6. Seal unused rooms and close all the vents of unused rooms so excess heating or cooling is not required to keep the room at a comfortable temperature.
7. Use your air conditioning more effectively. Try avoiding using heat consuming appliances in the middle of the day and during the evenings when the temperature is very high. Laundry, ironing, cooking and other high energy consuming activities are best done early morning and late evening to better save the home from overheating.
8. Check all air vents and ducts to make sure they are properly working.