No one wants to have to deal with toxic chemicals, carbon monoxide, radon or mold in their homes. But, unfortunately, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates houses are filled with 2-5x higher amounts of air pollution than what’s outside. And they’re linked to allergies, headaches, eye irritation and respiratory problems, including asthma.

Correctly applying the four pre-programmed settings of a programmable thermostat may conserve an average of $180/year. With the help of these money-saving tips, you can feel more confident in the investment you’re making to run an energy-efficient home:

Did you know there are just as many benefits from properly insulating your home during the summer as there are during the winter? Insulation can keep your air conditioner working efficiently, which leads to lower bills and energy usage every month.

As your thermostat begins its uptick into spring and summer, we’re recommending tips to keep your air conditioner running smoothly. There’s nothing worse than having a nonfunctioning AC unit (or an extremely high electric bill!) when temperatures soar above 90 degrees.

A new cooling system may save you up to 7 percent of your energy usage. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions below, you may want to restore or replace your air conditioner.