How to heat your home eco-consciously

These simple home heating tips are "win-win" propositions -- you use less energy and save money.

1. Furnace filters need to be replaced or cleaned every month to work efficiently. Keeping your furnace lubricated and properly adjusted with regular maintenance will save you 5% on your annual home heating bill.

2. If you lower the water temperature from the typical 140 degrees to 120 degrees you not only prevent scalds, you can eliminate 479 pounds of carbon from polluting the atmosphere. (And you’ll do even better if you switch from an electric heater to one fueled by natural gas!)

3. Ceiling fans save energy in both summer and winter. In winter, reverse the motor so the blades rotate clockwise, and run the fan at low speed. This creates a gentle updraft which forces warm air near the ceiling down into your living space. For cooling, consider adding a whole house fan to your ceiling fans. An attic fan draws warm summer air up and out through a vent in the roof.

4. A humidifier can help keep your home warm as the moisture it creates will increase the heat index, making 68 degrees feel like 76. You need to maintain a relative humidity between 30 and 50% to keep condensation off the windows. And don’t forget to turn down the thermostat.

5. Installing high efficiency energy star rated windows can reduce heating and cooling costs by as much as 15% year after year.

6. Put your electric water heater on a timer that turns it off when nobody’s using it.

7. Install an energy star rated programmable thermostat for your heating and central air conditioning system. It can save you up to $100 a year.

8. Turn your thermostat up or down manually. In the winter, every degree lower between 60 and 70 degrees will save you 5% on heating costs.

9. Close vents and doors of vacant rooms.

10. Keep the damper on your fireplace closed when it’s not being used in the winter. You’ll avoid losing up to 8% of your home’s heated air.

11. Consider landscaping changes to help use energy more efficiently. For example, planting deciduous trees on the south-facing side of your house will shade your windows during the summer and reduce thermal load, but admit sunlight during the winter to provide solar heating and reduce energy bills.