The Midwest is a land of climate extremes, with sweltering summer heat and frigid winter cold. This means that, with the extra demands placed on your heating and cooling systems, an energy savings strategy can make a big difference in your energy expenditures throughout the year.

Here are some things to consider:

• Use a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats automate your energy use, allowing you to cut back on heating and cooling when you’re not at home or to lower the temperature when you’re bundled up in bed.

• Replace your air filters. Check your air filter every month and replace it at least every three months. Heaters and air conditioners have to work harder to push air through a dirty filter and that lowers their efficiency and drives up their energy use.

• Stay up-to-date on scheduled maintenance. Give your heating and cooling systems a checkup once every year. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure — and it will cost you less in the long run, too.

• Seal your ducts. If conditioned air is escaping from leaky ductwork before it gets to the inhabited areas of your house, you may find yourself pushing your heating and cooling systems harder to make up for it. Sealing those ducts can boost energy efficiency by as much as 20 percent, making this an easy win for your energy savings strategy.

• Pay attention to the small stuff. Your heating and cooling appliances do the lion’s share of the work in keeping your home comfortable, but don’t neglect other things as part of your energy savings strategy, including letting in the warm sun in the winter or opening a window in the summer.

For help creating an energy savings strategy for your home, contact the experts at Kansas Controls Heating & Cooling. We’ve proudly served the Wichita and Derby areas. Let our Family take care of your family.