At My Wesson, conservation is one of our major concerns - in addition to, of course, your comfort. Here are some tips that will help you make your home energy-efficient during any season.

Energy Tips for Warm Weather

1. Keep drapes, blinds and shades closed during the day to block out the sun.
2. Plant shade trees due west of west windows. It could reduce your air conditioning bills by up to 25%!
3. Install patio covers, awnings, and solar window screens to shade your home from the sun.
4. Keep the coils of your central or window air conditioner free of dust and dirt.
5. Open windows on cool summer days and nights. A good rule of thumb is not to open windows when the outside temperature is warmer than the inside of your house.
6. Whenever possible, hang your laundry outdoors to dry.
7. Use ceiling fans to cool your home - they're much cheaper to operate than air conditioners, and moving air feels cooler, so you can keep your thermostat setting higher.
8. Cook on the grill to keep cooking heat outside the home.
9. When cooking inside, use a microwave instead of a conventional oven. It uses less than half the power and cooks food in about one-fourth the time.
10. Move furniture away from air conditioning vents.

Energy Tips for Cold Weather

1. Sunshine! Windows on the south side of the house get the most sunlight. Eastern windows get sunlight in the morning. West facing windows receive sunlight in the afternoon. Open shades and drapes during the daytime to let the sun's warmth enter your home, and close when the sun goes down.
2. Close your kitchen vent, fireplace damper and closet doors when not in use.
3. Check your threshold for any gaps between it and the door. Use a bottom seal that can be attached to the bottom of the door - it should brush up against the floor to seal up the threshold. It virtually stops drafts.
4. Repair weather stripping and caulking.
5. Replace any cracked glass in your windows.
6. Make sure your ceiling has at least six inches of insulation.
7. Wrap your pipes to guard against heat loss and freezing.
8. Have your fireplace chimney cleaned and inspected regularly.
9. Check the threshold for any gaps between it and the door; use a bottom seal that can be attached to the door to stop drafts.
10. Get a heating system tune-up before the heating season begins.

All Year Long Energy Tips

1. Install a programmable thermostat. When used properly, it can shave $100 off your annual energy bills.
2. Use compact fluorescent lights. They last up to 10-13 times longer than standard bulbs and use 75% less energy.
3. Choose a high-efficiency water heater. An indirect oil-fired water heater produces an almost endless supply of hot water with a very fast recovery time.
4. Keep your oven door closed! Every time you open the oven door, the oven temperature can drop 25 degrees. Use the oven light or a timer to avoid wasting energy.
5. Wash clothes in the coolest water possible - 80% of the cost to run your washer is used for heating the water.
6. Install dimmers and motion sensors wherever possible.
7. Take showers instead of baths. A five-minute shower will use about 7.5 gallons of hot water; filling a bathtub can use up to 20 gallons.
8. Clean refrigerator coils once a year to extend the life of your fridge.
9. Choose a high-efficiency dishwasher - they use 25% less energy than conventional models.
10. Since your dryer retains heat, dry loads back-to-back.