As the weather in Raleigh gets colder, we’re tempted to turn our thermostats up higher and higher. This tendency doesn’t only add to our utility bills – it’s also not very friendly to the environment. To avoid wasting energy, you can change some habits at home to make sure your home heating isn’t just comfortable, but also efficient. At Progressive Heating and Air, one of the four Progressive divisions, we’ve posted efficient home energy tips before. Today we’d like to add a few more to the list:

• If your windows have curtains, leave them open during sunny days to take advantage of the sun’s heat. At nighttime, close the curtains to insulate your home from the chilly outside air as much as possible.
• Most of heat loss happens through windows. Consider installing storm windows or specialized insulating windows to avoid losing too much warmth from your home.
• Have a programmable thermostat installed. Program your heating system to a low temperature during times you’ll be away, like during the workday.
• Make sure heat isn’t leaking out of your house through cracks.

Try these tips and you’ll be on your way to a cozy (and cost-effective) home.