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Raleigh, North Carolina - As temperatures drop, energy bills tend to rise in winter. However, you can take some low-cost to no-cost steps to make your living space more energy efficient while reducing costs. 

What you need to know 

According to Duke Energy, heating can account for 50% of total energy use

Here are some low-cost or free adjustments that people can keep warm while reducing heating costs

Cleaning the heater's air filter and sealing air leaks also helps to save energy waste

Jeff Brooks of Duke Energy recommends using the natural heat of the sun to open the blinds on the sunny side of the house and close the blinds on the shaded side or at night. 

"It's also great to use that ceiling fan," Brooks said. "If you turn it clockwise, it can actually help pull the heat away from the ceiling, which tends to gather in high places. This will help you feel more comfortable, while also reducing some heating costs. ."

He recommends checking the air filters on the stove to make sure they are clean to avoid overworking the equipment. This will shorten its service life and increase your heating costs. 

Lowering the thermostat will also help reduce costs. Every degree helps reduce costs, because heating can increase energy use by as much as 50%. 

"Every point you drop on the thermostat makes a big difference," Brooks said. "If you are away for a few hours during the day, turn the thermostat down a bit. Because you can actually heat your home fairly quickly, and if you're not at home, you don't need to heat up for eight or nine hours all day. ." 

For holiday lighting, Brooks recommends using LED lights to help reduce energy costs. The energy they use is only a small part of the traditional incandescent filaments that people used in the past. 

"They look the same, they are beautiful, and they usually last a long time, they save you a lot of energy," Brooks said.

For more energy saving tips and frequently asked questions, please click here.