Kids starting a new school year aren’t the only ones who can earn an “A” in education. Raise your hand if you’d like to learn how to save money on your energy bill.

Teach your thermostat: Since you’ll have less people in the house during the day, turn up the AC a few degrees to save on your energy bill, or better yet, get a smart thermostat and “teach” it to do this for you.

Load up your laundry: With kids getting back into gym class, sports and other after-school activities, more laundry will need to be done. Wait until you have a full load before running the washing machine. Also, washing your clothes in cold water can save the average household as much as $30 a year.

Stick to a schedule: Contact your trusted HVAC technician to make sure your furnace can pass its yearly exam and will keep running all winter long. Back to school is also a good reminder to change your furnace filter.

These tips won’t be on the final exam, but they will help you manage your energy costs. Study up on more ways to improve your efficiency year-round.