Dress for Cold Weather
Dress in layers; slap a pair of slippers on your feet; and add a hat to complete your "stay warm" ensemble.Decorate for Warmth
Put flannel sheets on your bed, rugs on your floors, insulated curtains in your windows and warm blankets on your sofa. When it's cold outside, nothing says money in the bank like a house that's blinged out in warm accessories.Take Advantage of Free Solar Heating
Open curtains during the day to allow the sun to warm your home; close curtains at night to trap in the heat.Minimize the Use of Kitchen and Bathroom Fans
They suck out undesirable smells, but they also suck out a lot of hot air.Change Your Filter Regularly
A dirty filter makes your furnace/heat pump work harder, and leads to super scary numbers on your heating bill. Aim to swap yours out once a month.
Get Those Ceiling Fans Going
Hot air rises (naughty air) Run your ceiling fan in reverse to bring it back down to floor level.Turn Down the Thermostat
A couple degrees cooler when you're away or asleep can make a big difference on your heating bill (without any sacrifice from you).
Tip: Get a programmable thermostat, and let it make the adjustments for you.
Get an Energy Audit
You won't find many doctors that make house calls these days, but you'll still find plenty of energy auditors that do. Schedule an energy audit for your home (many utility companies offer them for free or a small fee), and find out where you could improve the efficiency of your home.
Insulate. Then Insulate Some More
Plug your zip code into the Department of Energy's insulation tool, to find out how much insulation your home needs. Then, beef up your existing insulation as needed.
