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The wicked cold of winter can wreak havoc on the energy bills of people who live in those colder climates, just as the intense heat of summer does so for people who live in the hottest parts of the country and the world. The rates that the utility companies charge are pretty much fixed in stone, but a wise home owner can lower their energy costs significantly by doing their homework and by taking measures to ensure that those costs are lowered.

Here is a look at some of the simplest ways by which to accomplish this. Understand that the measures that you take that initially appear to cost you a lot of money are going to save you many times what you spent in the long run.

*Proper insulation -

Make sure that your home is properly insulated. Adequate insulation will keep the heat in your home and maintain the temperature of the home more evenly. Don't forget about the heat that can escape through windows and doors.

*Get a programmable thermostat -

A programmable thermostat can be a real money saver. It allows you to set the thermostat for a certain temperature. Unless the temperature in the house drops below the temperature at which you've set the thermostat, the heat won't kick on. Additionally, a programmable thermostat will allow you to set the thermostat at a lower temperature at night.

*Turn the thermostat down -

There is no reason to turn the heat up if the house is not horrifically cold and the pipes aren't in danger of freezing. Setting the thermostat at 65 or 68 degrees as opposed to 72 or 75 degrees will save you substantially. If you can turn the thermostat down to 63 or even 60 degrees at night, that will also save you a lot of money. If you get cold at night, just put an additional blanket on the bed.

*Seal windows and doors -

Make sure that the area around all windows and doors is properly sealed. Poorly sealed windows will allow a lot of cold air to enter and all of the hot air to escape. If you can afford it, double paned windows will save you even more money, as will drop down double pane storm windows.

The storm windows provide an additional layer between the regular window and the outside. Although they can be costly, you will save significantly in the long run. Moreover, if it is possible to install the kind of storm windows that have a pull down storm window and screen built in, you can save yourself from having to purchase separate screens and storm windows, and once they are installed, switching back and forth is very easy

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