5. Insulate your home
This energy-saving and money-saving tip isn’t quick or cheap, but it can save you a lot. Look into having insulation installed in your attic, in your walls, and around windows, among other places. It’s estimated that homeowners can shrink their energy bills by between about 5% and 20% by doing so. If you pay, say, about $2000 to run your heaters (and air conditioners) each year, you might be able to lop $100 to $400 off your bills annually. This tip helps in summer, too, as well-insulated homes retain their coolness better.
Insulating your home well may cost several thousand dollars, but there’s a good chance that you can take advantage of federal incentive programs to cut down the cost — and your utility company may even be able to help you, too. A good first step is to contact your local utilities.