During the chilly winter months, it can be easy to overheat your house or apartment. The worst part is you probably won’t realize just how much heat you’re using until you receive a massive bill in the mail.
To avoid shelling out your life’s savings on an electricity bill, it’s important to keep a few energy saving tips in mind.
1. Layer your clothing before cranking up the heat. If you’re comfortable in shorts and a tank top when it’s freezing outside, you’re probably going overboard on the heat. According to the Eugene Water and Electric Board, you can save up to three percent on your bill by turning thermostat down to 68 degrees or lower.  
2. When you’re not home, turn down the heat by 10 degrees. Aisha, an EWEB energy management representative, said if you’re not going to be home, “the longer you can turn the heat down, the better.”
3. Don’t heat rooms that are rarely used. Yuri Choi, a prospective University student, said she once got a $200 electric bill because she and her roommates were heating the first floor of the house but mostly spending time on the second floor.
4. Rather than heating an entire room, invest in an electric blanket to keep warm when snuggling up on the couch or going to bed.
5. If your house or apartment has a working fireplace, using fire to heat your home can be a good alternative to using gas or electric heating when done properly. Make sure you close the damper after each fire so the heat doesn’t escape. Also, remember there’s no need to have the heater on at the same time that you’re burning a fire. Have your landlord pay for a fireplace specialist to make sure your fireplace is safe and in working order.
6. If you notice drafts of cold air coming into your home, contact your landlord to have them fix up any holes or cracks, or do it yourself using weather strips.
7. Freshman Laura Selby said it’s also important to think about “turning off lights after you leave the room.” Switching to fluorescent light bulbs can be another great way to reduce your electricity usage.
8. To save money in the kitchen, use lids to cover pots on the stove. This allows you to contain the heat and cook with less energy.
9. Use cold water to do your laundry if you have a washer and dryer in your home. This will you save you the money of heating the water.
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