It’s a cold truth: Heating systems in the United States contribute more than a billion tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere each year. Reducing energy needed to heat homes in winter makes sense from a climate change standpoint as well as a monetary one.

Here are a few tips to save energy and money heating your home this winter.

• In most homes, you can save about 2 percent of your heating bill for each degree you lower the thermostat (for at least eight hours each day). So turn down the heat when you’re asleep, or install a programmable thermostat that will do it for you. It’s a myth that it takes more energy to reheat a cold house than to keep it warm all day (or night).
• The greatest heat loss in a home is usually from air leakage. The most cost-effective place to stop it is in the attic. The least cost-effective measure is window replacement.
• If you’re insulating, start with the attic first, then move to the sidewalls. The third best insulation site, where applicable, is a basement crawl space, followed by perimeter joists at the top of the foundation walls and then the foundation walls themselves.
• In a typical house, about 30 percent of the air that moves through the ductwork is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. You can correct this by sealing ducts that are accessible (in basements or crawlspaces) using a sealant called duct mastic. (Do not use duct tape, as it’s not long-lasting.)
• Make sure heat isn’t escaping around leaky doors and windows by caulking or weather stripping cracks and gaps.
• A home energy audit by a certified energy rater will help you evaluate what weatherization measures your house needs. Click here to find a list of professionals in Ohio