1. Close the curtains. 

Close your blinds or drapes in the daytime to keep out the heat. South and west-facing windows bear the brunt of the sun's heat, so investing in good drapes or shades and keeping them closed in the summer will reduce interior heat load and improve comfort. 

1. Watch the thermostat.

Keep it at 68 degrees when you are at home and even lower when you are away for an extended time. A consistently low temperature setting will avoid overworking your heater. Extreme weather conditions cause HVAC systems to work harder, which leads to higher energy consumption and costs, so it’s more cost effective to bundle up instead of turning the thermostat up.