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How to Reduce Your Home Heating Costs. Saving the planet and saving money go hand-in-hand
when you reduce your home heating bill. You will need A furnace tune-up A programmable
thermostat Heavy curtains or quilt blinds A boiler blanket Weather stripping Caulk Sweaters
An energy audit and storm doors and windows. Step 1. Get your furnace tuned up before winter
sets in. Doing this annually will keep your furnace running efficiently. Step 2. Install
a programmable thermostat so you can lower the heat when no one is home and at night
while everyone is sleeping. Lowering the heat to 72 degrees and putting on a sweater is
a carbon-free, money-saving way to stay cozy. Step 3. 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. 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. 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 your utility company’s efficiency
programs. Many will pay for programmable thermostats and some even subsidize roof insulation. Step
6. Hold a piece of toilet paper near windows and door frames to check for drafts. Sealing
cracks with weather stripping can save big bucks. 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. Review the outside
of your home for cracks that are draining heat and caulk them. Step 8. Keep baseboard
heaters and radiators clean and make sure your furniture and curtains are not blocking
the vents. Step 9. 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. Did you know Lowering your thermostat to 68 degrees while
you’re at work can decrease your heating bill by 12 percent.