There are many simple things you can do.
Replace your furnace filter.
Seal all the gaps around your windows and doors
Change to a programmable thermostat
clean your HVAC ducts
clean your dryer duct
Get a more efficient water heater
Change to more efficient faucets and shower fixtures.
The two main ways your home would not be energy efficient is a lack of insulation (especially in the attic) and having old, drafty, single pane windows.
If you check your attic and have areas where the ceiling isn’t insulated, you can estimate the square footage and go buy some rolls of insulation to install. Of course, there’s no way to know if there’s insulation in the walls or to install it without penetrating the walls. But, the attic insulation is more important.
For the windows, you would have to buy and have installed new dual pane windows. This would be an average of $250 or so per window to have done. But, it really makes a difference.
Another way to make your home energy efficient is to install ceiling fans and use them instead of air conditioning. You can also replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. And, if you have any appliances – including your furnace – that are over 10 years old, new appliances are a lot more energy efficient than those made just 10 years ago.
Those suggestions are ALL good, but there’s another, easier way. Go to your energy provider (gas, oil, or electric company) and ask for an "energy audit," which they usually provide for free. They will actually inspect your home and rate things like the R-factor of your windows and insulation, and give you a checklist of what you can do, in order of effectiveness, for your home specifically.
There are many simple things you can do.
Replace your furnace filter.
Seal all the gaps around your windows and doors
Change to a programmable thermostat
clean your HVAC ducts
clean your dryer duct
Get a more efficient water heater
Change to more efficient faucets and shower fixtures.
For many more ideas check out this article:
http://www.bobvila.com/HowTo_Library/60_Minute_Home_Improvement_Projects-Repairing-A3779.html
The two main ways your home would not be energy efficient is a lack of insulation (especially in the attic) and having old, drafty, single pane windows.
If you check your attic and have areas where the ceiling isn’t insulated, you can estimate the square footage and go buy some rolls of insulation to install. Of course, there’s no way to know if there’s insulation in the walls or to install it without penetrating the walls. But, the attic insulation is more important.
For the windows, you would have to buy and have installed new dual pane windows. This would be an average of $250 or so per window to have done. But, it really makes a difference.
Another way to make your home energy efficient is to install ceiling fans and use them instead of air conditioning. You can also replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. And, if you have any appliances – including your furnace – that are over 10 years old, new appliances are a lot more energy efficient than those made just 10 years ago.
Those suggestions are ALL good, but there’s another, easier way. Go to your energy provider (gas, oil, or electric company) and ask for an "energy audit," which they usually provide for free. They will actually inspect your home and rate things like the R-factor of your windows and insulation, and give you a checklist of what you can do, in order of effectiveness, for your home specifically.