Most times, people turn up the heat when they are cold, and don’t think about the cost to both themselves and the environment. Before you touch that thermostat, ask yourself if you are dressed for the weather. Do you have a sweater and slippers on?

You can save money and help the planet by turning down your thermostat to 68 degrees during the winter.

If you have a furnace, when you are sleeping or not at home, you can turn the thermostat down an extra five to eight degrees. A programmable or smart thermostat (that you can control with your smartphone) can help you put your thermostat on autopilot so you don't need to remember to turn it down and back up.

If you have a heat pump system, leave your system set at one temperature. If you lower and raise the temperature, your system will use its auxiliary heat, which takes a lot of energy and will raise your energy bill.

Setting a lower temperature can lower your energy bills by 10%, which can really add up.