December is here, and so is colder weather. PPL Electric Utilities is offering ways to help keep homes warmer, bills lower and energy savings higher this winter.

Increased energy use during prolonged cold temperatures can lead to higher bills as heating a home uses more energy than any other system in the house. By following a few simple tips and making energy efficiency improvements, customers could save more on their winter heating bills.

• Capture the sun’s light and heat: During the day, leave your curtains and blinds open to illuminate your rooms naturally and gain warmth from the sun. At night, close your curtains and blinds to prevent that heat from escaping.

• Set your thermostat to “smart”: When the conditions fluctuate outside, it’s easy to forget to change your thermostat inside, or to know which temperature to set it to.

• Close the gap: Inspect all doors, windows and ductwork for gaps that could leak heat from the home. Caulking and installing weatherstripping in these gaps around windows and doors can help customers close in on savings.

• Become a “fan” of reverse thinking: Fans can be just as important for keeping everyone warm as they can be for keeping them cool. Flip the switch to change the direction of the blades so they spin clockwise in the winter. This will help push warm air downward.

• Prevent fireplace heat loss: When customers are not using their fireplaces, keep the damper closed so warm air doesn’t escape through the chimney. Energy-efficient fireplace grates also help by pulling cool air out of your room and into the fireplace, while bringing warm air back in the room.