The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), along with the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, the Edison Electric Institute, the U.S. Energy Association, and North American Technician Excellence, have launched a new campaign dedicated to optimizing the efficiency of home heating and cooling systems.

The 2 Degree Pledge campaign, recently approved by AHRI’s Communications Committee, acknowledges consumers’ need to find ways to reduce their energy use amid a slow economy and high energy prices. The campaign provides several ways for homeowners to lower their home energy bills including installing a programmable thermostat and arranging for proper maintenance of heating and cooling systems.

The campaign’s website, http://www.2degreepledge.org, encourages consumers to make a pledge to use their heating and cooling systems wisely, and points out that every two degrees of temperature difference in a home can save as much as 10 percent on energy bills. It also includes a calculator to help determine if a cooling or heating system should be replaced to save energy and money, reveals the entity’s press release.