Colleen Sullivan has written an HGTV Magazine piece full of handy tips for reducing your heating costs. You can see the full article, “Slim Down You Big Fat Heating Bill,” in the January/February issue (p. 35), but here are the suggestions she offers:

• Buy a programmable thermostat — “every degree you lower your thermostat cuts your energy bill by 3%”
• Re-seal windows
• Change your filters
• Install door sweeps — sweeps on exterior doors “can help you save as much as 5% on your heating bill”
• Insulate your attic — “an attic needs at least 12 inches of blown-in insulation… sealed with a vapor barrier and ventilated so moisture can escape”
• Seal your ducts
• Go tankless*
• Turn off your exhaust fans
• Retire your boiler — especially if your boiler is more than 20 years old, “a high-efficiency model could save your 40%”
• Heat one room — a portable oil radiator is not a fire hazard and lets you lower your home’s overall temperature

* Note that changing to a tankless water heater is a complicated project, with lots of pros and cons.