Long Term Savings Tips for Heating & Cooling

• Select energy-efficient products when you buy new heating and cooling equipment. Your contractor should be able to give you energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage.
• For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. For air conditioners, look for a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). See the efficiency standards for information on minimum ratings for each, and look for the ENERGY STAR when purchasing new products.
• Consider upgrading an old wood stove to an EPA-certified wood or pellet stove. Pellet stoves burn a renewable fuel made of ground, dried wood and other biomass wastes compressed into pellets and EPA has certified certain models as cleaner burning. However, be aware that most pellet stoves need electricity to operate. 

(Original article & full list of heating and cooling tips: http://energy.gov/energysaver/tips-heating-and-cooling)