In review, consider the following ideas suggested by Barbara O'Neill of Rutgers Cooperative Extension. When making home improvements, select from among well established licensed contractors who have submitted written, fixed-price bids for the work. Do not sign any contract that requires full payment before satisfactory completion of a job. To save as much as hundreds of dollars a year on electricity, purchase energy-efficient appliances, especially air conditioners and furnaces. Energy efficiency information is found on Energy Guide labels required by federal law.
Many utility companies offer rebates for the purchase of energy efficient products.
To save even more, purchase a programmable water heater timer and set it to turn on at off-peak hours. Keep in mind there are instances where water temperature should not be lowered. For each degree that a thermostat is lowered, heating bills will decrease by about two percent. Purchase a clock thermostat and set it to automatically reduce nighttime temperatures. Call several long-distance companies to see which one has the least expensive calling plan for the number and type of calls you make.