In addition to technology upgrades, everyday habits can reduce the amount of heat a home requires. Small changes in how occupants dress, manage the thermostat, use windows and window coverings, and care for the heating system can help maintain comfort while reducing energy consumption.
Wearing warm layers, sweaters, socks, and slippers indoors can help occupants stay comfortable at lower indoor temperatures. Blankets on couches and beds can provide additional warmth during evenings and overnight. These simple changes can allow the thermostat to be set a few degrees lower, reducing the amount of energy required for heating.
Lowering the thermostat while occupants are asleep or away from home is one of the easiest ways to reduce heating costs. Because heat escapes more slowly from a cooler home, the heating system uses less energy to maintain a lower temperature.
During heating season, reasonable starting setpoints are approximately 68°F while home and awake, and a few degrees lower while sleeping or away. The appropriate temperatures depend on household comfort, health needs, and climate. Programmable and smart thermostats make it easier to automatically lower the temperature at night or during the workday and warm the home back up before occupants wake up or return.
For homes with heat pumps, smaller temperature adjustments usually work best. Large, sudden increases in the thermostat setpoint can cause a heat pump to turn on its backup electric resistance heat, which is much more expensive to operate. Many smart thermostats designed for heat pumps can manage these adjustments gradually to avoid unnecessary use of backup heat.
Sunlight can provide free heat during the winter. Opening blinds, shades, and curtains on sunny days, especially on south-facing windows, allows solar heat to warm indoor spaces. Closing window coverings after dark adds an extra insulating layer that helps reduce heat loss through the windows overnight.
Furniture, curtains, and rugs that block vents, radiators, or baseboard heaters can prevent heat from circulating throughout the room. Keeping these heat sources clear allows warm air to move freely and helps the heating system warm the space more efficiently.
A fireplace chimney is a direct path for warm indoor air to escape outdoors. When the fireplace is not in use, keeping the damper closed prevents heated air from escaping up the chimney.
Regular maintenance helps heating systems operate efficiently. Air filters should be cleaned or replaced according to the manufacturer's recommendations, while indoor vents and registers should remain unobstructed to maintain proper airflow.
For heat pumps, the outdoor unit should be kept clear of snow, ice, leaves, and other debris that could restrict airflow. Periodic professional maintenance can also help identify problems that reduce efficiency or prevent the system from keeping the home comfortable.