Trying to reduce your energy costs and at the same time remain comfortable?  Please try these helpful hints.

• Keep your heating system maintained yearly.  According to the EPA, yearly maintained systems use 13% less fuel than those that are not.
• Arrange for automatic delivery to ensure your home always has heating oil.
• Don't block the heating vents or radiators with furniture.
• Add insulation; feel for air leaks around windows, bathtubs, fireplaces, electrical outlets. Caulk leaks.
• Winterize doors, use vinyl-covered foam weather strip to seal up thresholds.
• Keep fireplace damper closed when not in use.
• Install a water-saving showerhead and fix those drips. One drip of hot water per second from a leaky faucet will consume the equivalent of 16 baths per year.
• By consistently reducing your thermostat by just five degrees overnight, you can cut as much as 10% from your fuel bill.
• To maximize your energy savings without sacrificing comfort, install an automatic setback or programmable thermostat.
• Indoors - adhere protective film over window, leaving holes so that you can still open and close the blinds. Secure with double-sided tape.
• Outdoors - install a protective film over the window.
• Replace cracked window panes.
• Re-glaze window glass (glazing is the putty that seals the glass to the frame). You can use a putty knife or glazing gun. Re-glazing stops air infiltration on the sash itself. You can then install a V-strip to stop any air leakage that would go around the sash (window frame) - This also makes the window easier to operate up and down.
• Wood will shrink and cracks will occur as your house gets older. Be sure to inspect at regular intervals for an infiltration.
• Threshold - is there a gap between the threshold and the door? Use a bottom seal that can be attached to the bottom of the door - it should brush up against the floor to seal up the threshold. It virtually stops drafts.
• Glass doors on the fireplace will also provide insulation.
• Caulking is one of the most cost-effective things you can do to weatherize your home.
• You should caulk where 2 different types of materials meet, i.e. where the window frame meets the wall.
• Running half or partially full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine wastes energy. Always run full loads.
• Install fluorescent lighting wherever possible since fluorescent bulbs last 6-10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and can use 50%-80% less energy.
• Windows on the south side of the house get the most sunlight. Eastern windows get sunlight in the morning. West facing windows receive sunlight in the afternoon. Open shades & drapes during the daytime and close them when the sun goes down.
• If you have an older heating system, consider replacing it with an efficient new system.  The payback can often be substancial.