With cooler weather comes more time indoors. Taking a few easy steps at home will help you save money and energy while staying comfortable and warm.

Get the most out of the heating season with these energy-saving tips:

Vacuum furnace air returns, registers and baseboard heaters. Dust can block airflow and reduce the effectiveness of your system.

Replace or clean your furnace filter to improve efficiency and help your system last long.

Turn down your thermostat at night or when the house is empty. If you have a heat pump, do not turn the thermostat down more than 2 to 3 degrees. A one-degree change in your thermostat setting can save up to 6% on heating costs.

Heat the smallest area possible. If your heating system allows you to control individual rooms, focus on heating occupied rooms where people congregate. At night, an electric blanket can keep you cozy in bed without heating the entire house.

Open your curtains and blinds during the day to let the sun heat your home.

Set the temperature on your water heater so the water at the tap is 120° F.

As warmer weather approaches, now is the perfect time to give your home an energy efficient makeover. Here are some tips to get your home ready for spring.

Replace your HVAC system air filters. Dirty filters block necessary airflow and can significantly reduce the system’s efficiency and life.

Check your thermostat settings and adjust for a spring/summer schedule. Program your thermostat to allow automatic adjustments.

Clear leaves and debris off the outside A/C or heat pump unit. This allows proper air flow for your unit to work more effectively.

Use LED bulbs with dusk-to-dawn sensors for outside lighting. You’ll never forget to turn the lights off again.

Seal air leaks around windows and doors by caulking, weatherstripping, or adjusting hardware for a better fit Fixing air leaks is a cheap and easy way to improve comfort and reduce energy use.

Plant shade trees to shield west-facing windows. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, well-placed shade trees can block the sun’s rays and reduce energy used for summer cooling by 15% or more.

Use cold water for laundry. Wash clothes in cold water to save on water heating costs.

Here are a few tips for staying cool and managing your summer energy use when it’s hot outside.

Check your thermostat setting to align with your comfort and budget. In the warmer months, each degree you raise your thermostat can reduce cooling costs by 2 to 3%.

Replace your air filter. Dirty and clogged air filters prevent airflow, which can make your HVAC system work harder. Replacing your dirty filter can lower your A/C’s energy usage by 5 to 15%.

Use ceiling fans, floor fans, and box fans instead of reducing the A/C temperature. Fans can make you feel 4 degrees cooler and helpmaintain comfort in occupied rooms. Remember—fans cool people not rooms — so switch the fans offwhen the room is unoccupied.

Close windows and blinds during the day or when you’re away, especially on the east- and west-facing sides. If safe, open your windows at night or in the morning to let in cooler air.

Avoid using your oven. Using your oven can add extra heat to your house. Try cooking more of your meals with a microwave, crockpot, pressure cooker, or grilling outdoors!

As we say goodbye to summer and hello to crisp fall weather, now is the perfect time to prepare your home for cooler weather. Here are a few energy efficiency tips to ensure your home is ready for the heating season.

Ensure you have adequate attic insulation. We recommend a minimum of insulation of R-38. Colder climates and Oregon need R-49.

Replace or clean your air filters before the heating season begins. Clean filters improve efficiency and help your system last long.

Check for air leaks around outside doors and windows. If you can feel a draft, caulk, add weatherstripping or adjust hardware for better fit. This also helps keep insects and spiders from coming inside as the weather cools.

Reverse the direction of the ceiling fans so they run clockwise. When set on low, they gently push warm air near the ceiling down the walls and into the room.

Set the temperature of our water heater so the water at the tap is 120° F.

Install LEDs in the most-used areas of your home to save energy and money as the days get shorter.