The Nature Conservancy in Indiana - JWN

More Tips on How to Conserve Energy

Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counsel's tips to Reduce Your Winter Energy Bill

The Daily Green's article on how to Winterize your Home and Save Energy

Make Your Home Energy Efficient with tips from SORT - an organization that aims to Save Our Resources Today

Want to estimate your energy costs this winter? Visit Duke Energy for heating costs and comparisons if you're interested in switching heating systems.

Across Indiana the gloves, scarves and hats have been grabbed out of back of closets, and thermostats have been turned up. Before you're shocked by your next energy bill, learn how to conserve energy, keep warm and save money all winter long!

Keep Warm while Conserving Energy & Saving Money

Although gas prices have dropped significantly since summer, don't expect to see those kind of savings on your energy bill. Hoosiers are being warned that the cost to heat your home is still expected to rise an average of 15% from last year. Those using natural gas aren't the only ones that need to worry; homes that rely on heating oil, propane and electricity are also expected to see an increase.

Luckily, it isn't too late to prepare your home for the winter. Several small, simple steps can save you money while keeping you warm all winter long. Not only that, but by conserving energy, you're also working to protect the planet by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases you emit into the atmosphere.

For example, according to the Alliance to Save Energy, turning down you're thermostat by one degree can reduce heating energy costs by 4% - between $30 - 70 depending on which fuel you use. Every degree lowered can also cuts your energy use by about 3%. According to the Consumer Guide's Green Choices, by lowering the heat, say be 5 degrees at night and 10 degrees during the day, you can save about 3,150 pounds of CO2 annually.

Energy Conservation Tips

Useful tips that will keep you warm while saving you money and energy during the long winter months:

The best investment this winter? A programmable thermostat that heats your home around your schedule. Set it to kick on in the morning, turn off when you leave and let it start again before you arrive home. Remember, those hours you spend away from the house as it heats is wasting a lot of energy and your money.

Putting on a thick, comfy sweater and some heavy socks will keep you just as warm as setting the thermostat a few degrees higher.

Clean or replace furnace filters either once a month or when needed. Cleaned warm-air registers and radiators also make a difference; make sure furniture, drapes, etc are not blocking their air flow.

Seal any air leaks around your windows and doors with insulation, caulking and weather stripping. Think about making a draft stopper snake, an easy project that helps stop cold drafts seeping in from under doors or windows.

If the attic isn't insulated, at least insulate the entrance to stop the cold from seeping above.

Warm air rises, so if you have ceiling fans set them clockwise to help push warmer air down where you can enjoy it.

By opening draperies and shades from south-facing windows during the day, natural sunlight can help warm a room. Just make to sure close them at night when the chill of cold windows can escape into the room.

Turn off ventilating fans in kitchens and bathroom when no longer necessary as they can pull out the warm air with whatever smell you're ridding the house.

When a fireplace is not in use, make sure that the flue is completely shut. If it isn't, warm air will seep out through the chimney all day long.

If in need of new heating equipment or other household appliances, look for an energy-efficient label such as ENERGY STAR® - a program of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency designed to help consumers identify energy-efficient appliances and products

Links for more ways to conserve energy, keep warm and save money this winter can be found above on the right column.