We all share a desire to stay warm and comfortable in the winter without spending a fortune on heat. With that in mind, let's look at a few ways we can achieve a more comfortable indoor environment while reducing energy costs.

1) Check your thermostat. If it isn't a programmable electronic one, replace it with one that is. A programmable thermostat can automatically adjust room temperature settings to energy-saving levels when you're sleeping or away from the house, eliminating wasteful energy usage. Also, never set your thermostat higher than it needs to be for comfort. Over a 24-hour period, you can save about 3 percent of your energy costs for every degree you lower the thermostat's set temperature in the winter. For more information, see Programmable Electronic Thermostats and How to Save Energy Using Your Thermostat.

2) Seal up your house. If you haven't already done so, install weatherstripping around windows and doors. Caulk any cracks or openings in the siding. And consider installing or repairing storm windows and storm doors. The idea is to prevent your home's expensively heated air from escaping. See our report for more information on weather stripping.

3) Take advantage of the sun's warmth. Allow radiant energy from sunlight to augment your home's heating system simply by opening drapes and blinds on sunny days. Conversely, close curtains after sundown or on cloudy days to retain heat. If you are building or renovating your house, discuss passive solar heating options with your builder—you could significantly reduce heating costs as a result of such smart design.

4) Consider installing ceiling fans, particularly in rooms with high ceilings. Because warm air rises and can be trapped at the ceiling, a ceiling fan, when run in reverse direction during the winter, will circulate warm air back down to living areas. For more about ceiling fans, see the HomeTips Ceiling Fans report.

5) Be sure your home is adequately insulated. If it isn't, increase insulation, particularly in the attic. Not only is the attic usually the easiest place to insulate, but it's also where you will see the greatest benefit in energy savings. For an in-depth discussion of insulation, see the HomeTips report on Insulation.

6) Consider replacing your furnace if it's on its last legs. Forced-air heating systems are by far the most popular type of central heating, but most forced-air systems are sadly out-of-date. Some utilize only 50 percent of the fuel they burn. Newer models take advantage of up to 90 percent of their fuel. For more about these types of furnaces, see High-Efficiency Furnaces: A Buying & Care Guide.

7) Control the humidity levels in your home. For comfort in winter, your home's relative humidity levels should range from 30 percent to 60 percent. If they drop below this, the air becomes very dry and higher temperatures are required to feel warm. To boost the humidity, you can buy a humidifier, which puts water vapor back into the air. Room or console humidifiers will handle individual rooms and small areas, but for the entire house, you'll need a whole-house system that is installed as part of the heating system. For more about humidifiers, see Humidifiers Buying Guide.

8) Keep your radiators or convectors in tiptop shape. Knocking sounds in heard steam and hot-water heating systems mean that air is trapped in components. Be sure to release air from the system when you hear such sounds and, preventatively, before the cool season begins. You can also reflect heat back into room—and, hence, increase the efficiency of your system—by placing aluminum foil on the wall behind your radiator or convector.

9) Install a radiant-heat floor system. As an alternative to conventional forced air heat, consider installing a hydronic or electric radiant-heat floor system. These circulate heat throughout the floor and can be much more efficient than forced-air systems. For more information, see Radiant In-Floor Heating Systems.