By turning the temperature down 10º while you are asleep and while the household is away for the day (16 hours per 24­hour period) you can reduce your annual heating costs by as much as 15%. Use a programmable thermostat to automatically have your house warm for you when you get up and when you come home at the end of the day. The energy used to bring the house back up to a comfortable temperature does not exceed the energy you save while the thermostat setting is lower.

For any thermostat to function properly, it must be located in the space you want to heat. And keep in mind that you will not heat the room faster if you turn the heat up higher than you want the temperature to be.

Some thermostats rely on a mercury switch that needs to be level to be accurate. For this reason as well as because of environmental concerns, non-mercury models are recommended. If you replace a thermostat that contains mercury, dispose of it properly at your local solid waste district drop off point. Visit www.mercvt.org for more information, or call the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation at 802.241.3455.

Having multiple heating zones allows you to keep the temperature low in rooms that are infrequently used. If you have a forced-air heating system, you save energy by closing registers and doors in unused rooms. However, this can unbalance your ducted distribution system which can affect the efficiency of the system and can lead to health and safety issues. Please contact your heating contractor or Efficiency Vermont with questions about zoning your forced-air heating system. With a hot water system, it's much simpler: Turn down the thermostat for the zones you don't wish to heat.<

With hot water systems, you can install controls that optimize the efficiency of your system. The outdoor reset control senses the outdoor temperature and adjusts the water temperature in your boiler accordingly. In this way, you maintain a comfortable house while heating the water only to the temperature that you need.

Furnaces distribute heated air through a system of supply and return ducts. Heated air enters rooms through supply ducts and is brought back to the furnace for reheating through return ducts. Some high-efficiency furnaces also use high-efficiency fan motors sometimes called Electronically Commutated Motors (ECM) or brushless DC motors. These motors use about half the power of a standard furnace fan motor and can thus reduce your winter electric bills. And if you have a central air conditioner, you can save on summer electric bills.

Furnace ductwork needs to be balanced so that rooms with supply registers do not become pressurized and rooms with returns do not become depressurized. Both of these situations can increase air leakage between indoors and out, which can contribute to poor indoor air quality. Twenty percent or more of the heat your furnace produces can be lost through leaky ductwork. To avoid this problem, use smooth-wall metal ducts sealed with foil tape or mastic sealant and then insulated. Avoid installing ductwork in unconditioned spaces such as attics, knee walls and crawl spaces. Clean and replace filters at least once per year or as often as necessary to ensure clear pathways for air.

Steam boilers heat water until it becomes a vapor and quickly distribute the steam through pipes to radiators. The radiators distribute heat to each room, and the condensed water then returns to the boiler (either in the same pipe or through separate piping) for reheating into steam.

Hydronic boilers (also called hot water systems) use pumps and valves to move heated water to radiators, baseboard convectors, or radiant floor systems. Different areas of the house can be "zoned" so that the temperature can be adjusted separately in each zone. Insulate pipes and avoid installing hot water distribution in unconditioned spaces such as attics, knee walls and crawl spaces. Radiant floor heat distribution systems should be insulated on the underside of the floor.

Space heaters are essentially "spot" heaters that heat a single room or even the whole house if it's a small or very efficient house with an open floor plan. A wide variety of space heaters exist, using different kinds of fuel. Some have supplemental fans to help distribute heat. Depending on the characteristics of the space intended to be heated, more than one unit may be required. If you have a constant need for supplemental space heaters, you may have insufficient insulation and/or excessive air leakage that needs to be repaired. If you need to use electric space heaters, take proper safety precautions. Space heaters should be positioned away from any flammable materials and should not be left unattended.

Unless operated exclusively by electricity, space heaters should always be vented to the outside. The combustion process creates harmful by­products (including carbon monoxide) in addition to large amounts of water vapor, and it is important that these pollutants be removed from your home. If you choose to use an unvented or "vent-free" heater in your home, be aware that you must also have an oxygen depletion sensor (often integral with the unvented heater) and a carbon monoxide detector. Unvented heaters must be used in well-ventilated areas.

Woodstove efficiencies can range from under 50% to almost 80%, depending on their construction and on how they are used. You can increase the efficiency of your woodstove by keeping the stove temperature high enough to completely burn the wood and combustion gases. Consult the manufacturer or your supplier for recommended temperatures. You can purchase a temperature gauge designed specifically for woodstoves that shows you when your stove has reached optimal temperatures.

Wood-burning fireplaces are great for aesthetics and ambiance, but they typically lose more heat than they generate. Fireplaces also waste large amounts of the heat generated by your central heating system by drawing in cold outdoor air through any leakage points in the house. Traditional wood fireplaces are, therefore, best used when the central heating system is not needed. Sealed-combustion gas fireplaces can be over 90% efficient and are thus a far better choice as a useful heat source.

Wood-burning fireplaces should have well-fitted glass doors and a source of outside air for the firebox.

Woodstoves and fireplaces should not be operated for extended periods with just a smoldering fire because those produce substantial amounts of carbon monoxide, particulates and creosote.

Well-seasoned wood burns cleaner and also optimizes the amount of useful heat energy gained. Be sure to close the damper tightly when the fireplace/woodstove is not in use. A specially designed chimney balloon or rigid insulation can help reduce heat loss up the chimney when it's not in use. To prevent chimney fires and blockage, keep chimney flues clear of creosote and be sure that the chimney is in sound condition. Have a professional chimney technician inspect and clean all chimneys at least once a year.

Electricity is the most expensive energy source in Vermont, even as gas and oil prices rise. Not only does it cost you a lot of money to heat with electricity, but the amount of energy used is far more significant than many people think. If electric heat is utilized during the coldest periods of winter, Vermont's energy demands will increase, ultimately leading to higher electricity rates. If you use electricity to heat your home, please call Efficiency Vermont. We can help reduce your electricity costs.