Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Don’t let “Old Man Winter” take a bite out of your wallet. Now is the time to implement some helpful energy-saving tips so you can keep the cash in your wallet while keeping the cold outside where it belongs.

Heating and air conditioning can account for as much as 55 percent of your monthly electric bill. Setting the thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter is an easy way to reduce how much energy you use. Every degree above 68 on the thermostat can increase your bill by about 3 percent. So, if you crank it up to a toasty 78 degrees, you’ve already added 30 percent. Other tips include:

• Seal air leaks. Install weather stripping around your doors, windows and any location where there may be a path between the inside and outside of your home or business.
• Conserve hot water. Wrap your electric water heater with a water heater blanket that can be found at local home improvement stores and set the thermostat to 120 degrees or medium.
• Keep all doors and windows closed. Constant traffic will let out the warm air, forcing your heater to work harder to keep the room at the set temperature.
• Ensure fans are turning the right way. Fans should be run at a low speed clockwise during the winter. This helps keep the cold air from blowing down on you.
• Keep the air circulating. Don’t block heat registers or air returns with curtains or furniture.
• Leverage the sun. During the day, open your curtains and blinds to let in the warm sunlight. Close them at night to reduce heat loss.