You probably realize that keeping your home warm all winter and cool all summer is a pretty expensive proposition. In fact, in most areas of the country, nearly half of the utility bill in most homes goes toward heating and cooling, and, besides this, your heating and cooling systems can up your carbon footprint by, well, a whole lot. If you want to put a little money back into your wallet and do something kind for the environment, figure out how to run your furnace and air conditioning less.

One very basic way to save on heating and cooling costs is to set your thermostat low in the winter and high in the summer, rather than setting it at the same temperature all year. This makes sense, anyway, since you will be wearing heavier clothes in the winter and lighter clothes in the summer. Who wants to deal with changing clothes each time you walk into your home because it is either too hot for your sweater or too cool for your shorts?

Another way to save your wallet and the environment is to use the power of the sun. You do not actually have to install a solar panel system, although that would help. Instead, simply draw back the curtains and pull up the blinds on any south-facing windows in your home during those short winter days. This will help brighten your home and your mood, and it will keep your home just a bit warmer. On the other hand, you should keep those drapes and blinds shut during the summer, since the simple fact that your rooms are shaded rather than bright will keep them much cooler.

On a similar note, be sure to block your north-facing windows up in the winter with insulating material of some kind. Many stores actually sell thermal curtain panels now, and they come in a variety of colors and textures and look no different from normal curtains. If you prefer blinds, there are thermal blinds available as well. Also, be sure to stop up any drafts you feel from windows and doors in the winter, whether you use towels, caulking, or specialized draft-blocking tools like those bean bags you can set in front of your door.

One last way to save on your heating and cooling bill every year is to have your furnace and air conditioning system serviced each and every year. It is best to do this sometime before the heating or cooling season actually begins, but if you do it a few months beforehand, you may end up getting a discount. At the very least, you may be able to take your pick of appointment times, since the heating and cooling companies are less likely to be busy.

If you get to the point where your furnace or air conditioner can no longer be maintained, consider replacing it with the highest-efficiency model out there. These models are not all that much more expensive on the front end than other furnaces and air conditioners, but they will end up saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars in heating and cooling costs over the years.