If one of your goals for 2016 is to save money, then lowering your energy bills could really help. A good place to start is by improving the efficiency of your heating and cooling system, which likely accounts for nearly half of your energy use.

• Change Your Filters. A dirty filter will make your system work harder to provide the air needed to keep the temperature inside your home comfortable. Dirty filters will not only raise your energy bill, but also can cause wear on your HVAC system. Changing your filters is one of the easier energy-savings tips, and can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by around 10 percent, according to Energy.gov. Not sure when to change your filter? Read this article on the O’Brien Service Company blog to learn more.
• Schedule Annual Maintenance. This is one of the more important energy saving tips. Your system runs almost 365 days a year. Without proper maintenance, it will not run as efficiently as it should. A professional maintenance inspection can identify small issues that could become larger and more costly problems. A professional will clean drain lines to prevent water leaks and major parts to help your system run more smoothly. You would not go years without getting maintenance on your car, so don’t go years without having your heating and cooling system maintained.
• Install A Programmable Thermostat. Why have your system running at full blast when you’re not home? With a programmable thermostat, you can set your system so it can rest when you’re away and ajust to your desired temperature by the time you get home. Some programmable thermostats are Wi-Fi compatible and allow you to set the temperature in your home using your smartphone.
• Install A New Energy Efficient System. While this is not one of the cheaper energy-saving tips, it is an important one. If your home’s heating and air system is more than 10 years old, it is not going to run as efficiently as a system made today. If your older system needs frequent repairs, contributes greatly to high energy bills, and never keeps your home comfortable, it’s time to consider a new, energy-efficient system. Be sure to have a proper load calculation performed before having a new system installed in your home.