Green myths debunked

Myth: It doesn't pay to turn down your thermostat when you're not home.

Reality: Why pay to keep empty space warm?

Most people think it's not worth it to cool the house when it's empty because the furnace is going to have to work extra hard to get the house feeling cozy again. But the energy needed to reheat a home is pretty much equal to the energy saved when it cools down.

The time when your empty house is cooler can save anywhere from 5% to 15% on your heating bill if you dial the temperature back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day, according to the Department of Energy. -- E.F.

NEXT: Energy: Eco-friendly heating