Start 2015 with an #EnergyResolution to Save Money and Energy All Year Long

Happy New Year! It's 2015 folks, and that means it's time to get your New Year's resolutions in order.

You may have already resolved to go to the gym or eat heathier, and that's great, but I challenge you to also create an #EnergyResolution that will save money while saving energy all year long.

The Energy Saver bloggers were up to the challenge and have developed some great energy-saving resolutions you can try yourself.

More Efficient Heating and Cooling

Allison Casey:  "I resolve to install (and use!) a new programmable thermostat that allows me to better manage my heating and cooling with scheduled settings and a smartphone app."

Programmable thermostats can store and repeat six or more daily settings that will automatically increase or decrease the temperature to maximize savings without sacrificing comfort. For example, by turning your thermostat back 10° to 15° for 8 hours, you can save 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill.

Erik Hyrkas: "I resolve to invest in an energy efficient space heater or buy warmer bedding to cut down on energy bills in my apartment."

Portable heaters are a great way to implement zonal heating. In some cases, small space heaters can be less expensive to use if you only want to heat one room or supplement inadequate heating in one room.

Better Home Weatherization

Christina Stowers: "I resolve to have a home energy assessment performed on my house."

Professional energy assessments or home energy audits  help you pinpoint where your house is losing energy and what you can do to save money. In fact, you can save 5% to 30% on your energy bill if you make the efficiency upgrades identified in the home energy audit.

Elizabeth Spencer: "I resolve to make my home cheaper to heat by identifying why the bonus room is so much colder than the rest of the home and improving its insulation and air sealing."

While a professional home energy audit is best, you can also implement a DIY audit to address more obvious issues in your home, like air leaks. To determine where there are air leaks, conduct a visual inspection of the outside of your home where two different building materials meet. Inside your home, look for any cracks or gaps that could be creating an air leak. Then, when you find a leak, seal it!

Greener Commuting

Paige Terlip: "I resolve to carpool to work three times a week."

Carpooling, taking public transit, or biking to work are great ways to save money and reduce carbon emissions. If you can't commute alternatively, try to use our transportation tips like combining errands, maintaining your car, and not idling (even in the winter!).

Saving energy doesn't have to be costly or time consuming. Small everyday changes can add up to big savings. So create your own #EnergyResolution and tell us on social media by using #EnergyResolution or commenting on one of our existing posts.