The simplest way to curb heating costs doesn't have to involve buying expensive apparatuses, it can start right at home. Adjust your thermostat by turning it down when you're not home. By turning your thermostat back 10 or 15 degrees for eight hours, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that households can save 10 percent a year on heating and cooling bills. A programmable thermostat (left) offers users more flexibility when they're not home.