Meier, whose lab provides research data used by the EPA and DOE, further suggests that homeowners with electrical appliances think about converting to gas. Right now a typical electric water heater might use 300 kilowatt hours a year. You'll be able to get the same amount of hot water with a gas heater for half of that. So you're talking about saving a couple of hundred dollars a year. You might get a payback in a couple of years.
Window shades Another major source for savings is the air conditioner.
Installing shades and coverings over windows can save 5 percent in heating and cooling costs with a relatively small investment. An even bigger savings can be found in hiring a heating and air conditioning specialist to evaluate your system. Dirty coils, clogged ducts and duct connections that have come apart result in large-scale loss of efficiency. The National Air Duct Association recommends a complete tune-up every eight to 10 years. That includes cleaning and resealing fallen ducts and cleaning coils and the cage in the furnace unit.