Heating your home in the winter accounts for up to 48 percent of your utility bill. With cold weather already hitting South Texas, this could be a long winter.

Follow these tips to better manage your electric bill as the temperature outside drops.

• Clean or replace your air filter regularly. This will help the unit run more efficiently.

• Caulk and seal windows. This will keep heated air in the home, where it belongs, and cold air out. Weatherstripping or temporary window insulation can also stop drafts from coming in through doors and windows.

• Open window coverings during the day to take advantage of the sunlight’s natural heat, and close them at night to keep the warm air inside.

• Install a programmable thermostat, especially if you are gone most of the day. By automatically turning temperatures down for up to 8 hours a day when you aren’t there, a programmable thermostat can save you a significant amount of money.

• Avoid using space heaters. Space heaters use a large amount of electricity to heat a small area and cost about 15 cents an hour to do so. It is much more efficient to use your home’s central heating. If you must use a space heater, limit its use time and location to only rooms that are occupied.

Medina Electric’s members can use SmartHub see their daily energy use along with weather data. This may help you spot issues and determine where you can save even more energy and money.

For more information on ways to save this winter, go to MedinaEC.org/Cold.