As much of the country has already experienced, winter is upon us and cold weather directly impacts the amount of natural gas you consume – which in turn affects the amount of your monthly bill. Every year on Jan. 10, National Cut Your Energy Costs Day is a great reminder that using energy wisely and making a few household changes can have a positive impact on your natural gas and other energy bills. Plus, there is the added benefit of reducing your home's carbon emissions when you use less energy! With that in mind, here are five areas of the home where you can take immediate action to cut your energy costs:

Thermostat

The first and perhaps most obvious place where you can harness real savings is at the thermostat. We recommend setting your thermostat at 68 degrees during the day and lowering it even further to 58 degrees when you are away from home. If you want even more control over the energy usage in your home, consider installing a programmable or smart thermostat to help regulate temperatures with more precision.

Water Heater

Did you know that water heating can account for as much as 25 percent of the energy consumed in your home? That’s a huge opportunity to cut your energy costs even further, so try setting your water heater temperature at 120 degrees for the right balance between comfort and savings. What’s more, showers and baths can account for as much as 40 percent of your home's hot water use, so think about reducing your shower time by a few minutes and taking baths less often.

Large Appliances

While the clothes washer, clothes dryer and dishwasher all make our lives easier and much more convenient, they also require significant energy to complete a single cycle. Try to maximize the efficiency of all three by consolidating your laundry and dishes and running those appliances only when you have a full load.

Fireplace

For many, a warm fire in the fireplace is among the coziest images that come to mind when we think of winter. But if no fire is burning, it is important that you keep your fireplace damper closed. Leaving an open damper is like keeping a window wide open – warm air goes right up the chimney! 

Windows

Even on cold days, use the power of the sun to your advantage inside the home. If you have windows that receive direct sunlight during the day, leave those drapes and blinds open to let the sun's warmth further heat your home. At night, close the drapes and blinds to help insulate against the cooler nighttime temperatures.

While these are some of the most impactful changes you can make around the house, we invite you to consider many more ideas to deliver even more efficiency – on National Cut Your Energy Costs Day and all year round.