Print Close

Saving the planet and saving money go hand-in-hand when you reduce your home heating bill.

• 

  Step 1: Get your furnace tuned up

  Get your furnace tuned up before winter sets in. Doing this annually will keep your furnace running efficiently.

• 

  Step 2: Install a programmable thermostat

  Install a programmable thermostat so you can lower the heat when no one is home and at night while everyone is sleeping.

• Tip

  Lowering the heat to 72 degrees and putting on a sweater is a carbon-free, money-saving way to stay cozy.

• 

  Step 3: Use curtains to regulate heat

  Close curtains and quilted blinds at night to help keep heat from escaping through windows. Open them during the day to let in the sun’s warmth.

• 

  Step 4: Cover your heating system

  Use a boiler blanket and pipe insulation to keep heat inside the heating system where it belongs. Before using a blanket, consult your owner’s manual—make sure the blanket you plan to use is safe for your boiler.

• Tip

  Ask your gas or electric company if they do free energy audits, in which they appraise each room for its energy efficiency and make cost-cutting recommendations.

• 

  Step 5: Look into utility company rebates

  Look into your utility company’s efficiency programs. Many will pay for programmable thermostats and some even subsidize roof insulation.

• 

  Step 6: Seal cracks

  Hold a piece of toilet paper near windows and door frames to check for drafts. Sealing cracks with weather stripping can save big bucks.

• Tip

  If you improve your home’s energy efficiency by replacing an old boiler, furnace, or water heater, or by investing in storm windows and doors, you’re entitled to an energy tax credit.

• 

  Step 7: Fill outdoor cracks

  Review the outside of your home for cracks that are draining heat and caulk them.

• 

  Step 8: Clean radiators

  Keep baseboard heaters and radiators clean and make sure your furniture and curtains are not blocking the vents.

• 

  Step 9: Centralize your winter life

  Since pioneer times many a family has found warmth by gathering around a stove in winter. If you live in a big house, try sealing off little used rooms and/or an entire wing when the snow flies.

• Fact

  Lowering your thermostat to 68 degrees while you’re at work can decrease your heating bill by 12 percent.