Yes, it’s that time of year again – the leaves are falling almost as fast as the temperature.  Summer is long gone and we’re beginning to think about those nasty winter heating bills all over again.  In fact, as the price to keep our homes warm and cozy continues to skyrocket right along with energy costs these days, it’s no wonder that more and more of us are seeking out ways to be a little bit greener… If not also for the environment, then at least for the money savings, right?

Well as the mercury drops, here are some great ways to drop our energy usage too…

Let the Light In – One thing is for sure, just because the sun isn’t as intense during the cooler months, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t still pump out lots of great natural light.  Actually, with fewer leaves on the trees, the natural light seems to be even brighter.  Take advantage and let the light in to your home.  Open up all the blinds during the sunny parts of the day instead of turning on all the lights.  And for the times of the day you do need to use the lights, use low wattage compact fluorescent bulbs instead!

Automatic Thermostats Are Magic – How often do you find yourself freezing cold while you’re tucked under the sheets and blankets in bed at night?  Chances are, the blankets do just fine keeping you warm during your slumber.  This means it’s possible to crank the thermostat way down, maybe even to 55 degrees.  Only one problem though – chilly early morning temps do make it hard to get up and out of bed, don’t they?  Solve this by installing and setting an automatic thermostat to kick the heat up 20 minutes or so before you get up every day.  It works wonders and lets you keep costs down overnight.

Balance the Southern Exposure’s Heat – Let the sun in to the house during the day, not only for light, but for its warmth and heating strength too.  The key is to keep the blinds open, especially as the sun pours directly in through certain windows throughout the day.  When it’s not coming in, go ahead and close the blinds or shades to add a bit of extra insulation.  It’s a proven fact that blinds really do help keep the heat in, but they’ll also keep it out if not properly utilized.

Don’t Rule Out Space Heat – If you happen to be around home quite a bit during the day, it pays to boost your home’s temps with space heat.  Say you spend a big part of your time in your home office.  If that’s the case, then go ahead and keep that room warm with its own heater.  This allows you to stay comfortable while keeping the rest of the house turned down to a more moderate temp, saving plenty of cash or in other words, keeping green in more than one way.

Stay Toasty With a Blanket – I know it’s not worth being uncomfortable by being cold.  But remember, there are other ways to stay warm without just relying on your home’s central heating system.  Take the warmth with you wherever you go by simply dressing warmer – think sweaters and slippers.  Also, when lounging around watching TV or reading, keep a big thick blanket nearby to cover up with.  This self containment approach to boosting body heat easily allows you to kick down the thermostat a few more degrees with out sacrificing comfort!

There are so many ways to utilize and maximize the sources of heat that we so often forget about or take for granted.  Sure, we can really play a big part by converting our home into full blown energy efficient green machines, but if that’s not exactly in the budget, at least save some cash by trying a few of these little things that add up to big green.