The Northern tier of the USA is all too familiar with winter weather and the heating bills that go along with it. This area of the United States is a good example of seasonal living and a variety of temperatures. Mother Nature can dish out some long, cold nights and some brisk, chilly days for as many as six months out of the year depending on where you live. The further North you are located, the more the winter heating season is going to cost you. The American dream is to own your own home and an extension of that dream is to own a large, luxurious home. What happens when it's time to heat that house to a comfortable temperature on a cool fall day or a down-right cold winter evening? That's easy, the cost of wintertime comfort begins to add up as soon as you add heat. Many homeowners struggle with that bill. As energy costs continue to rise almost constantly, the ability to pays those heating bills becomes more stressful and more cumbersome. But where there's adversity, there's ingenuity and savvy. By focusing more attention on the energy use in your home, you, as a homeowner can fight the rising costs of keeping warm in wintertime.

Let's look at the many different methods of home heating. Fossil fuels such as wood, coal, fuel oil, propane, and natural gas are the most popular. Electric heat is also a viable option for many households. New technologies, although not as popular as the traditional home heating, like burning corn or using geothermal energy for home heating are becoming more popular as individuals look for better and less expensive ways to keep the inside of the home at a comfortable level. Heating oil, propane, and natural gas prove to be the most convenient. There is no cleanup or mess whatsoever. The gas-man or oil-man as they're called, delivers the fuel on a monthly basis or an as-needed basis. Natural gas can be fed to a home through a public system of gas lines which is even more convenient. This type of heat becomes just a matter of paying the bill and adjusting your thermostat. Electric falls into this category as well. Electric has the added benefit of zone control, or separate room control, in a more precise manner than homes heated with a central furnace. Wood and coal however have cleanup and ashes involved. In the case of wood, there can be chopping, stacking, and storing prior to using it for heat. Cleanup can be a matter of cleaning out the burner or stove and disposing of the ashes.

No matter which method you use to heat your home there is money changing hands. There are those who swear by one method or the other but studies show that there is no easy answer to getting the most heat for the price. This is where the savvy comes in. Homeowners need to be conscious about insulation in their houses. This is the single most cost effective method of shaving some expense from your monthly heating costs. It could be old single pane windows, it could be space beneath your entrance doors. It could be as simple as uninsulated walls. The next easiest tip for saving money is by exhibiting thermostat control. I know it is a common suggestion to turn down a thermostat but many homeowners still don't get it. A decrease in room temperature from 72 to 68 degrees, just four degrees can save as much as 7 to 10 percent off your monthly heating bill. Another popular way of reducing heating utilities is by simply using more than one heat source. When the price of oil increases, simply rely more heavily on electric space heaters or maybe purchase a small wood burner for the family room. Many people deliberately buy their propane or heating oil in the off-season. Obviously, this can only be done when finances permit, but it can save a reasonably large amount of money annually.

Your utility company may include money-saving tips every month with your bill. Take the time to read the bill and understand it. As for the inserts enclosed with the bill, be sure to read and heed the advice of you local supplier. With some focus, every homeowner can reduce winter heating costs regardless of the type of primary and secondary heat in the residence.