How to Fight Rising Home Heating Costs

• Turn your water heater to the warm setting (120 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Make sure your water heater has an insulating blanket.
• Consider replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescents (CFLs), which can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents.
• Check the age and condition of your major appliances, especially the refrigerator. You may want to replace it with a more energy-efficient model before it dies.
• Clean or replace furnace, air-conditioner, and heat-pump filters.
• Rope caulk very leaky windows.
• Collect your utility bills. Separate electricity and fuel bills. Target the biggest bill for energy conservation remedies.
• Insulate hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.
• Seal up the largest air leaks in your house -- the ones that whistle on windy days, or feel drafty. The worst culprits are usually not windows and doors. They're utility cut-throughs for pipes, gaps around chimneys, gaps around recessed lights in insulated ceilings or unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
• Install a clock thermostat thermostat to lower the heat automatically at night.
• Schedule an energy audit (ask your utility company or state energy office) for more expert advice on your home as a whole.

Source: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy