byAlma Abell

On average, 55 percent of the annual cost of energy goes toward heating and cooling. For most people, this is a lot of money, although it can never be eliminated, there are ways to keep heating, and cooling costs in check. There is no need to be at the mercy of the weather; a few hours on the weekend are all you need to save on energy costs.

It is not even necessary to drag out the toolbox; there are things that can be done that take no more than a desire to reduce your cost of heating and cooling in Chicago.

• Control the thermostat: Every time you feel a little chilly, remember that every degree that you crank up the temperature increases your cost of energy by three percent, or think of it the other way: every degree you set back on the thermostat saves you three percent. If you drop the temperature at night and while you are at work by ten degrees, this total time of 16 hours will reduce your costs by a whopping 14 percent annually.
• Use fans: Exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom can dispel heat. Use them wisely during the summer; you can reduce your dependence on air conditioning, which will save you money.
• Use curtains: During the day, keep the curtains on the south side of your house open in the winter. Let the sun work for you. Close all curtains at night to keep the heat or cool in, rather than leak through drafty windows.
• Reduce the water temperature: A comfortable water temperature is 120 degrees F. If your water heater setting is higher than that, turn the thermostat back, you will not notice any appreciable difference.

These are a few tricks that can help you control the cost of heating and cooling in St Charles. It takes little time and effort to make an appreciable dent in one of your biggest annual household expenses.

As well as a few things you can do, to keep the cost of heating and cooling in St Charles in check, make sure your HVAC system is maintained and serviced regularly. To arrange service, contact Blue Frost Heating & Cooling. Follow us on Google+.