Here are some helpful conservation tips that you can act on yourself or with the help of South Shore Heating & Cooling.

Cold Weather Conservation Tips

1. Correct air leaks around windows, doors and electrical outlets.
2. Repair weather stripping and caulking.
3. Replace any cracked glass in your windows.
4. Make sure your ceiling has at least six inches of insulation.
5. Wrap your pipes to guard against heat loss and freezing.
6. Have your fireplace chimney cleaned and inspected regularly.
7. Check the threshold for any gaps between it and the door. Use a bottom seal that can be attached to the door to stop drafts.
8. Get a heating system tune-up before the heating season begins.
9. Keep ductwork in good repair with duct insulation.
10. Remove air conditioning units from windows.
11. Close your kitchen vent, fireplace damper and closet doors when not in use.

Warm Weather Conservation Tips

1. Keep the coils of your central or window air conditioner free of dust and dirt.
2. Make sure the output of your air conditioner is right for the size of your room or house to ensure optimum efficiency and comfort.
3. Change or clean your air conditioning filter monthly during the cooling season to improve efficiency and extend the life of your air conditioner.
4. Look for an air conditioning unit that is ENERGY STAR® approved.
5. Cook on the grill to keep cooking heat outside the home.
6. Install reflective window coatings to reflect heat away from your home.
7. During the day, block the heat from the sun by closing windows, doors and curtains.
8. During the hot summer afternoons, avoid using appliances.
9. Open windows on cool summer days and nights. A good rule of thumb is not to open windows when the outside temperature is warmer than the inside of your house.

Year-round Conservation Tips

1. Install a programmable thermostat. When used properly, it can shave $100 off your annual energy bills.
2. Use compact fluorescent lights. They last up to 10-13 times longer than standard bulbs and use 75 percent less energy.
3. Choose a high-efficiency water heater. An indirect oil-fired water heater produces an almost endless supply of hot water with a very fast recovery time.
4. Keep your oven door closed! Every time you open the oven door, the oven temperature can drop 25 degrees. Use the oven light or a timer to avoid wasting energy.
5. Wash clothes in the coolest water possible. 80 percent of the cost to run your washer is used for heating the water.
6. Install dimmers and motion sensors wherever possible.
7. Take showers instead of baths. A five-minute shower will use about 7.5 gallons of hot water; filling a bathtub can use up to 20 gallons.
8. Clean refrigerator coils once a year to extend the life of your fridge.
9. Choose a high-efficiency dishwasher that uses 25 percent less energy than conventional models.
10. Since your dryer retains heat, dry loads back-to-back.