Is your bank account struggling to keep up with increasingly costly energy bills each month?

If so, you’re not alone. On average, more than half of a home’s energy consumption goes toward powering its heating and cooling systems, and Americans spend tens of billions annually on keeping their homes heated during the winter and cooled down during the summer.

Luckily, you don’t have to be paying as much as you are every month just to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. There are plenty of little-known ways for homeowners to make their heating and cooling units use less energy every day!

To start cutting your heating and cooling systems’ energy use — and your energy bills — in half, here are three simple things you can do today:

Know how to use your blinds

Your window blinds and shades can be a secret weapon for keeping heat in — or out of — your home. During the summer, keep your window blinds closed to repel the sun’s heat; likewise, keep them open in the winter to let the sunlight flow in and warm your home naturally. This allows you to use less energy by using the sun.

Turn off the fans

While using ceiling fans and whole house fans can help keep air circulating throughout your home, try to only use your bathroom and kitchen fans when necessary. Because the latter fans circulate climate-controlled air out of the home, your home air conditioning systems work harder than they should to keep your house cool.

Make use of your programmable thermostat

Having a programmable thermostat that can keep certain rooms in your house cooler or warmer than others is a great way to cut energy costs. Chances are, you have rooms that you don’t use often — so why heat or cool these rooms for no reason?

Have any other questions for us about heating and cooling services? Let us know in the comments below. Read more.