Wireless　sensor　networks　(WSNs)　require　an　enormous　number　of　sensor　nodes　(SNs)　to　maintain　processing,　sensing,　and　communication　capabilities　for　monitoring　targeted　sensing　regions.　SNs　are　generally　operated　by　batteries　and　have　a　significantly　restricted　energy　consumption;　therefore,　it　is　necessary　to　discover　optimization　techniques　to　enhance　network　lifetime　by　saving　energy.　The　principal　focus　is　on　reducing　the　energy　consumption　of　packet　sharing　(transmission　and　receiving)　and　improving　the　network　lifespan.　To　achieve　this　objective,　this　paper　presents　a　novel　improved　energy-efficient　cluster-based　routing　protocol　(IECRP)　that　aims　to　accomplish　this　by　decreasing　the　energy　consumption　in　data　forwarding　and　receiving　using　a　clustering　technique.　Doing　so,　we　successfully　increase　node　energy　and　network　lifetime.　In　order　to　confirm　the　improvement　of　our　algorithm,　a　simulation　is　done　using　matlab,　in　which　analysis　and　simulation　results　show　that　the　performance　of　the　proposed　algorithm　is　better　than　that　of　two　well-known　recent　benchmarks.　©　2021　The　Korea　Institute　of　Information　and　Communication　Engineering.　All　Rights　Reserved.