Housing Finances Celebrate Fall with Two Big Ways to Save in the Cooler Months Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Written by Mint.com Published Sep 29, 2017 3 min read Advertising Disclosure The views expressed on this blog are those of the bloggers, and not necessarily those of Intuit. Third-party blogger may have received compensation for their time and services. Click here to read full disclosure on third-party bloggers. This blog does not provide legal, financial, accounting or tax advice. The content on this blog is "as is" and carries no warranties. Intuit does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, reliability, and completeness of the content on this blog. After 20 days, comments are closed on posts. Intuit may, but has no obligation to, monitor comments. Comments that include profanity or abusive language will not be posted. Click here to read full Terms of Service. What better way to celebrate Fall than by saving some money? (Okay, jumping in a pile of leaves is just as great.) With the temperature beginning to drop, it’s time to start looking around the house for ways to save on energy costs. Follow these savings tips below to reconfigure your home for energy savings in the colder months, as well as take advantage of some great tax credits and deductions for energy-efficient purchases. Free and Easy Some of the best ways to save money as it gets cooler are also completely free. Open your window shades during the day to let the warmth of the sun heat your home and take the bite out of the cold. Turn the thermostat down a few degrees below your preference at night and fill in the warmth-gap by bundling up under the covers. Even if you don’t have a closet full of unused blankets, a warm flannel comforter costs less than a month of electricity. You know that switch on the side of your ceiling fan? Flip the switch and reverse your ceiling fans to help circulate the warm air above your head. Close the air vents to the rooms that you’re not using. Only heat the rooms that are occupied on a regular basis. No sense in keeping your lonely furniture nice and toasty! Whether you’re heating your home with a fireplace or with a central heater or furnace, keep your hot air inside by double checking your insulation and weather stripping. Fill those gaps in the windows and doors, and make sure the attic has the necessary defense against the cold air outside. Saving While Spending Let’s face it, sometimes we have to repair or upgrade our homes. And with those somewhat intimidating words comes one thing: spending money. But when it comes to creating a more energy-efficient home, you could save on your energy bill and taxes. The Residential Energy Efficient Property Tax Credit offers you some major tax breaks when it comes to purchasing qualifying energy-efficient appliances. The IRS is offering a credit on your tax return for 30% of the cost of alternative energy purchases – Wind Energy from Wind Turbines, Solar Energy from Solar Panel Systems, and Solar Hot Water Heaters. Not only will these alternative resources save you money each month, but they’ll reduce the amount of taxes you owe, helping to turn your tax bill into a tax refund. What makes this credit even better is that there is no limit on the amount of available credit. Your credit is 30% of your qualified purchase. And get this, if your credit is greater than the amount of taxes you owe during this current year, the government will let you roll over the remainder of your savings to the next tax year. Uncle Sam, what a guy! Don’t worry about knowing the tax laws. TurboTax will ask you simple questions and give you the tax deductions and credits you are eligible for. Previous Post Navigating FAFSA: As easy as 1-2-3 Next Post Ask Farnoosh: Should I Buy in the City or Suburbia? Written by Mint.com More from Mint.com Browse Related Articles Mint App News Intuit Credit Karma welcomes all Minters! Retirement 101 5 Things the SECURE 2.0 Act changes about retirement Home Buying 101 What Are Homeowners Association (HOA) Fees and What Do … Financial Planning What Are Tax Deductions and Credits? 20 Ways To Save on… Financial Planning What Is Income Tax and How Is It Calculated? Investing 101 The 15 Best Investments for 2023 Investing 101 How To Buy Stocks: A Beginner’s Guide Investing 101 What Is Real Estate Wholesaling? Life What Is A Brushing Scam? Financial Planning WTFinance: Annuities vs Life Insurance