Living in the northeastern part of the country means challenging weather all year round. The temperature swings from negative twenty-five to the high eighties. Our weather forecast is filled with blizzard warnings, wind chill warnings, sleet, hail, freezing rain, thunderstorms and high winds. There is rarely more than a week or two when we’re able to go without either the furnace or the air conditioner. Temperature control is a big part of the budget, adding up to approximately fifty percent of our household energy bills. I take very good care of my heating and cooling equipment, making sure to schedule professional maintenance and replace the air filters. I have invested into a smart thermostat to maximize opportunity for energy savings. I’ve made it my mission to tighten up my home and eliminate waste. Through insulation, caulk and weatherstripping, I’ve helped to combat expensive leaks. Every couple of years, I have the ductwork inspected and tested by a licensed HVAC contractor. The Duct system can be a big source of energy losses due to small holes and cracks at the seams. The majority of homeowners sacrifice up to 30% of heated and cooled air because of flaws in the ductwork. I spent quite a bit of money on replacing all of the windows in the home. Although they were quite expensive, I noticed a big difference in the comfort of the home. Just recently I added ceiling fans in quite a few rooms. My husband and I were able to install the fans ourselves. They work to create a cooling effect by pushing warm air upward during the summer. In the summer, we reverse the rotation of the fans to encourage the heat down toward the floor.