Want to lower your utility bills without sacrificing comfort? Start with your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. HVAC accounts for a significant portion of a typical home’s energy use – often around 30% or more energy.gov. The good news is there are many HVAC energy saving tips that can reduce waste and improve efficiency. In this post, we’ve compiled the top 10 ways to save energy on heating and cooling. By following these tips, homeowners from sunny Los Angeles to chilly New York can keep comfortable year-round while seeing real savings on their electricity and gas bills. Let’s dive in!
One of the simplest and most effective ways to save energy is to use your thermostat strategically. In the summer, set your air conditioner a few degrees higher when you’re away or at night (and in winter, set the heat a few degrees lower during those times). These small adjustments can add up significantly. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat down 7–10°F for 8 hours a day in the winter (or up in the summer) energy.gov. Even raising your AC setting by 1°F can save around 3% on cooling costs highlandsaes.com. Tip: In the summer, try keeping the thermostat around 78°F when you’re home (the EPA’s recommended setting) and higher when you’re out; in winter, around 68°F while home and lower when out or asleep. Find the warmest (in summer) or coolest (in winter) temperature you’re comfortable with and stick to it.
For even better control, consider upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat (more on that below in Tip #5). These devices can automatically adjust temperatures based on your schedule, so you’re not paying to fully heat or cool an empty house. Smart thermostats can even learn your preferences and optimize your HVAC usage for you, saving energy with minimal effort.
If there’s one maintenance task that delivers huge energy benefits, it’s changing your air filters on time. A dirty or clogged filter forces your HVAC system to work harder to push air through, wasting energy and straining the equipment. In fact, a clogged filter can increase HVAC energy use by 5-15% because of reduced airflow. During peak seasons (summer and winter), check your filter every month and replace it at least every 2-3 months – or sooner if it looks dirty. Homes with pets or lots of dust (common in desert areas like Phoenix, AZ) may need more frequent changes. Filters are inexpensive compared to the energy they’ll save and the wear-and-tear they prevent.
Pro Tip: Mark filter change dates on your calendar or set reminders. Always use the right size and type of filter for your system. If you’re unsure, your HVAC technician can advise on the best filter options (standard fiberglass vs. pleated high-efficiency filters, etc.). But don’t use a filter that’s too restrictive for your system; extremely high MERV filters can impede airflow if your system isn’t designed for them.
Just like a car, your heating and cooling systems need regular tune-ups to run efficiently. Professional HVAC maintenance (ideally twice a year, in spring and fall) keeps everything in top shape. During a tune-up, a technician will clean coils, oil motors, check refrigerant levels, and ensure all components are operating correctly. This prevents the system from having to “fight” through issues like dirt buildup or loose parts that drain energy. According to research, just cleaning a dirty air conditioner coil can improve efficiency by up to 15% energystar.gov, directly cutting your cooling costs.
Additionally, maintenance catches problems that cause inefficiencies. For instance, if your AC is low on refrigerant or your furnace burners are dirty, the system won’t heat or cool as effectively and will run longer (using more electricity or gas). By fixing these issues, you can often restore the unit’s performance to optimal levels. You’ll not only save energy but also extend the life of your equipment. Many utility companies in regions like California and Texas even offer rebates or discounts for HVAC tune-ups because they know maintenance saves energy in the long run.
(Need guidance on what maintenance to do and when? Check out our HVAC Maintenance Checklist for Spring and Fall for a detailed seasonal guide.)
An energy-efficient HVAC system won’t do much good if your home is leaking air. Sealing gaps and adding insulation helps maintain the conditioned air inside, reducing how often your HVAC needs to cycle on. Check for drafts around windows, doors, and any penetrations in walls or ceilings (like where plumbing or electrical lines enter). Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal leaks. In the attic and walls, make sure you have adequate insulation for your climate – many older homes (for example, classic houses in Chicago, IL or other northern cities) are under-insulated by today’s standards.
Don’t forget your ductwork. If you have a forced-air heating/cooling system (ducts), leaky ducts can lose 20-30% of the heated or cooled air before it ever reaches the rooms energy.govenergy.gov. Sealing ducts (with proper materials like mastic or foil tape, not ordinary duct tape) and insulating ducts that run through unconditioned spaces (like attics or crawlspaces) can significantly improve your system’s efficiency. Consider hiring a professional for a home energy audit; they can perform a blower door test to pinpoint air leaks and duct leaks. By tightening up your home’s “envelope,” your HVAC system won’t have to run as long to replace lost air, which means lower bills and more consistent comfort.
Harnessing fans and natural ventilation can give your HVAC a break. Ceiling fans and portable fans cost very little to run but can make you feel several degrees cooler by evaporating moisture on your skin. In the summer, run ceiling fans in occupied rooms to create a gentle breeze – this allows you to raise the thermostat about 4°F with no loss of comfort. (Just remember to turn fans off in empty rooms; fans cool people, not the air itself.) Similarly, on cooler summer nights or during mild spring/fall weather, open windows to let in fresh air instead of running the AC. Just be mindful of humidity and pollen if those are concerns in your area.
In the winter, reverse your ceiling fan direction (most have a switch) to clockwise at low speed. This pushes warm air that rises to the ceiling back down into the room, helping you feel warmer without cranking up the thermostat. Also, take advantage of sunlight for free warmth: open curtains on sunny days to let the sun heat your home naturally, especially on south-facing windows, and close them at night to insulate.
We mentioned thermostat adjustments in Tip #1, but to truly maximize those savings, consider installing a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats (from brands like Nest, Ecobee, or Honeywell) learn your schedule and preferences, automatically optimizing your HVAC usage. They can detect when you’re away (using motion sensors or your phone’s location) and adjust temperatures accordingly. Many utility companies offer rebates for smart thermostats because they effectively reduce energy demand.
The advantage of a smart thermostat is that it does the thinking for you – no need to remember to turn the temperature down every night or before you leave for work. Some models even use weather data to pre-cool or pre-heat your home efficiently. Over time, a smart thermostat can pay for itself through energy savings. According to studies, these devices can save an average of 8-10% on heating and 15% on cooling costs, depending on your habits energy.govenergy.gov. (They especially help if you previously left the HVAC at one constant setting.) Plus, you get the convenience of controlling your home’s climate from your smartphone.
(Curious about smart thermostats? Read our Ultimate Guide to Smart Thermostats and HVAC Efficiency for an in-depth look at features and benefits.)
Your HVAC system will struggle if it can’t circulate air properly. Two key aspects to check are ventilation and airflow:
Keep Vents Open and Clear: It’s a myth that closing vents in unused rooms saves energy – in fact, it can make your system less efficient or unbalanced. Your HVAC is designed for a certain airflow; closing vents can raise pressure in ducts and cause air leaks or reduce airflow to other rooms. So keep all supply registers open and make sure return vents aren’t blocked by furniture or dust. This balanced airflow helps the system heat/cool as intended.
Use Kitchen and Bathroom Fans Sparingly: While cooking or showering, use exhaust fans to remove heat and moisture (especially in summer). But don’t leave them running too long; they can suck out conditioned air. Once odors or steam are cleared, turn them off so they don’t continue to pull heated/cooled air out of your home.
Ventilate Appropriately: In milder weather, as mentioned in Tip #5, ventilate with outside air when you can to reduce AC use. But in extreme temperatures, keep windows and doors closed tight to not waste HVAC effort. In humid climates (like Florida or Gulf Coast states), be cautious about open-window ventilation, as letting humid air in can make your AC work harder to remove moisture.
Do you have rooms that you rarely use or a multi-story home where upstairs gets warmer than downstairs? A zoned HVAC system could be a smart solution to save energy. Zoning involves dividing your home’s HVAC system into sections (zones) that can be controlled independently. This is often done with multiple thermostats and automated dampers in the ductwork, or by using ductless mini-split systems for different areas. The benefit is you can heat or cool only the areas that need it, rather than the whole house all the time.
For example, if your family spends most of the evening in the living room, you could program the bedrooms as a separate zone to use less cooling until bedtime. Or in a two-story home, keep the downstairs cooler during the day and then focus cooling upstairs in the evening. Zoning prevents energy waste and can solve comfort imbalances in the home. It’s easier to install in new construction, but retrofits are possible – talk to an HVAC professional to see if your system can be adapted for zoning. Even without formal zoning, you can mimic some benefits by adjusting registers, using ceiling fans (Tip #5), and closing doors to unused rooms, though as mentioned, don’t close vents completely if it will upset your system’s airflow balance.
If your HVAC equipment is old, it might be guzzling energy and driving up your bills. Air conditioners or heat pumps over ~10-12 years old and furnaces/boilers over ~15-20 years old are often far less efficient than today’s models. Consider this: a new ENERGY STAR certified air conditioner or heat pump can be up to 15% more efficient than standard models energy.govenergy.gov, and modern furnaces can reach efficiency ratings of 95% AFUE or higher (meaning 95 cents of every $1 of fuel actually heat your home). Upgrading to high-efficiency equipment can dramatically cut energy costs, especially if your current system is inefficient or oversized/undersized for your home.
When shopping for new HVAC equipment:
Look for the ENERGY STAR® label and check the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) for AC/heat pumps or AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) for furnaces. Higher numbers mean more efficiency. For example, older AC units might be SEER 10, while new ones can be SEER 16–20+.
Consider two-stage or variable-speed systems. These can run at lower output for longer, maintaining comfort with less energy compared to the stop-and-start of single-stage units.
If you live in a mild climate, investigate heat pumps. They provide efficient heating and cooling in one and have seen big advances; some can even handle very cold climates efficiently.
Don’t neglect proper installation – an efficient unit that’s poorly installed won’t perform well. Work with reputable, licensed HVAC contractors (see our tips for choosing the best HVAC contractor) to ensure you get a pro who will size and install your system correctly.
Yes, new HVAC systems require an upfront investment, but they pay off over time through lower monthly bills (and fewer repair headaches). Plus, there are often tax credits or utility rebates available to help offset the cost of energy-efficient upgrades – so upgrading can be a win-win for your wallet and comfort.
The environment around your home can affect how hard your HVAC has to work. You can landscape for energy savings and use simple tricks to ease the load on your system:
In hot climates, provide shade for your home and particularly your AC unit. Planting trees or installing awnings on the sunniest side of the house can reduce solar heat gain. A shaded air conditioner can run more efficiently than one in direct sun (just leave a couple feet of clearance around it for airflow and maintenance access).
Close blinds or curtains during hot summer days, especially on windows that get direct sun. This can lower indoor temps by several degrees. Consider reflective or insulated window treatments for even more effect.
In winter, do the opposite: open curtains on sunny days to let solar heat in, and close them at night to keep the heat in. Insulated drapes can reduce heat loss through windows at night.
If you’re replacing your roof or painting your home’s exterior, lighter colors reflect more heat. Cool roofs (with reflective coatings or materials) can significantly reduce heat absorption in warm regions, meaning your AC doesn’t have to work as hard.
Also, be mindful of the thermostat location inside your home. Make sure it’s not in direct sunlight or near drafts, as that can cause the HVAC to run longer than necessary due to incorrect temperature readings.
Your HVAC system isn’t the only thing affecting your home’s temperature. Appliances and lighting give off heat, which can make your AC work harder. During summer, try to:
Run heat-generating appliances (oven, dryer, dishwasher) in the cooler parts of the day (morning or evening) or consider grilling outside instead of using the oven on very hot days.
Use LED light bulbs, which produce less heat and use far less energy than incandescents.
Keep lamps or electronics away from the thermostat – they can trick it into thinking the room is warmer than it is, causing the HVAC to run longer than needed.
In winter, the opposite can help (baking a pie not only warms the kitchen, it adds a cozy feel!). But efficiency still matters, so use energy-efficient appliances year-round.
By implementing these energy-saving HVAC tips, you’ll notice a difference not only in your monthly utility statements but also in your home’s comfort. Even small changes, like a 1° thermostat tweak or timely filter change, can yield noticeable savings. And bigger moves, like upgrading to high-efficiency equipment or improving your home’s insulation, can dramatically reduce your heating and cooling costs for years to come.
Remember, consistency is key. Make energy-saving habits part of your routine – soon they’ll become second nature. Your wallet will thank you, and you’ll be doing your part to conserve energy. Plus, if you ever decide to sell your home, lower operating costs and efficient HVAC systems are attractive selling points for energy-conscious buyers.
Stay tuned to our blog for more HVAC tips and guides. If you’re looking for professional help to implement some of these improvements (like installing a smart thermostat or servicing your system), check out our Top 10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an HVAC Company to make sure you choose a qualified pro. Here’s to staying comfortable and saving money!
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