With winter now in full swing in many parts of the country, that thermostat may be getting more attention than usual. Whether you have a furnace, boiler, or heat pump system, you want to make sure your home stays warm—especially as family and guests arrive for the holidays. 

But these appliances use far less energy than they did just 25 years ago, largely due to the Energy Department’s efforts to improve efficiency standards. These standards help ensure the majority of energy-consuming products in your home meet a minimum level of efficiency, which translates to lower energy bills month after month.

Take your furnace for example. While it’s keeping you warm all winter, it’s also been using at least 10 percent less energy than furnaces used in 1990. The Energy Department’s efficiency standards are behind those savings.

Water heaters have improved too. A hot shower is far less costly than it once was. The latest round of water heater standards, which went into effect earlier this year, will save consumers approximately $63 billion over the next 30 years. And if you have an ENERGY-STAR qualified water heater, which goes above and beyond the minimum standard, you could save up to $300 annually on your energy bills.

Hopefully the holidays will be less stressful knowing your energy bill won’t be outrageous, thanks to appliance standards that continue to lower energy bills for everyday Americans. Check out our EnergySaver website for tips on selecting efficient home heating systems and lowering your water usage.