Tips on reducing your heating bill this winter season.

Start with the obvious of going around the house and addressing all sources of drafts under and around doors and windows.

Don't forget to open windows once a day to get some fresh air in the home. Many studies have shown indoor air to be more polluted than outdoor air (if you have some sort of highly efficient air filter, you still need to bring in some fresh air every day).

Other tips beside sealing yourself in a bubble:

- Unless you have radiant floor heating, add large area rugs in winter over those hard floors (tile, marble, wood, laminate...)

- Add window treatments installed close to windows. This will reduce dramatically the heat exchange near windows (unless you have double pane insulated windows)

- Use your ceiling fans (reverse their rotation) to push downwards the hot air trapped near the ceiling

- Lower the thermostat at night and use efficient ceramic heaters in the rooms you use the most. No need to heat up the whole place when you are confined to a few rooms.

- Use your fireplace if you have access to cheap or free wood. Make sure it is properly screened, vented, swept, and you know how to use it. Make sure it is not burning unattended or while everybody is asleep. Get a CO (Carbon Monoxide) fire alarm installed it in that room.

- Cuddle up with your significant other, your pet...

- When everything fails, move to sunny south Florida. Contact me for that...