There are many misconceptions on how to keep your utility bills down in the winter. Focus on Energy is here to bust those myths-providing you ways to keep your energy costs down without sacrificing comfort.

MYTH: Turning down the thermostat during the day will make my furnace            work harder later. TRUTH: Your furnace will run for a shorter time and use far less energy to              heat up a cool house than it would if you kept the house warm all              day.

MYTH: Turning your thermostat to the highest temperature will warm you            up faster. TRUTH: No-the thermostat isn't like the gas pedal on your car-turning it to              the highest temperature setting doesn't warm you up any faster.

MYTH: You should close the vents in rooms you are not using to save energy. TRUTH: No-closing vents will restrict airflow coming out of the furnace or              air conditioner, which will cause the blower motor to either work              harder to overcome the barrier, or distribute less air which will              affect the comfort level of the rest of the home.

MYTH: Electric room heaters are better than heating the whole house. TRUTH: These are major energy suckers. It is impractical and expensive              to have a space heater running for a long period of time-and can              be dangerous if left unattended or used improperly. If you really              want to cut energy costs for heating, try turning your thermostat              down a degree or two.

MYTH: I should wait until my furnace breaks down before replacing it. TRUTH: Not the case. Even though an average furnace lifetime is about              18-20 years, furnaces that are 10 years old are likely to be 15%              less efficient than models available today. Replacing an older              model with a newer model might cost you more up front but can              save you in the long run. Focus on Energy can help homeowners              make upgrades to furnaces economically with Cash-Back Rewards              for high-efficiency furnaces.

MYTH: Adding insulation won't make that big of a difference with drafts. TRUTH: No-seal cracks, gaps, leaks, and add insulation to save 30 percent              on home heating costs. A Home Performance with ENERGY STAR              evaluation can help you find the best places to air seal.

MYTH: The more insulation, the better. TRUTH: Sometimes less is more. Installing too much insulation in an attic,              wall or floor can be counter-productive. Insulation needs to trap              air to work properly. Forcing material into a wall cavity or over              insulating the attic will compress the material and diminish its              effectiveness.

MYTH: Replacing a furnace with an ENERGY STAR model is enough to save            energy and money. TRUTH:There are other variables to look at along with purchasing an             ENERGY STAR model: Look for a furnace that has an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of 90% or higher. Get a furnace with a variable speed motor and multi stages of heating to get the most out of your gas and electric usage. Electrical savings alone can be over $100 per year. Ask the contractor to perform a heat loss calculation to make sure the furnace is sized properly for your home. Get several quotes and use a contractor that you feel comfortable with. Ask your friends, relatives and neighbors for references. Remember, a company's size and prices don't always indicate the quality of the workmanship.

Install (and use!) a programmable thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat is an easy way to save on winter heating costs. Your business may save up to 3 percent on heating costs for each degree you lower your thermostat. Make sure to install a thermostat that will automatically manage your building's temperature-lowering the temperature when the building is unoccupied.

Simple maintenance Regular maintenance of your building systems can save up to 20 percent on overall utility costs. Insulate hot water tanks and pipes, inspect ducts and windows, and seal leaks. These simple actions can really improve your business's bottom line.

Weatherization can yield big savings. Weather-strip and caulk cracks in walls, jams, and floors. Replace weather stripping where old, worn-out weather stripping may be.

Measure your facility for proper attic insulation. Consider upgrading with spray-foam or batt insulation. Additional insulation can be blown into walls, and today there are options for insulating flat roofs, crawl spaces, and floors.

Maintaining heating equipment. Businesses can save money on their heating bills this winter, simply by maintaining their furnaces. Basic maintenance like changing air filters and keeping the area around the furnace free from debris can help cut overall heating costs by 10 percent, and reduce fan energy use by 30 percent. Visit focusonenergy.com/tune-ups for cash incentives you may qualify for.

Purchase energy-efficient equipment. When it comes time to eplace equipment, look for the ENERGY STAR® label-your assurance of quality and energy efficiency.

Limit the runtime of holiday lights. Run your holiday lights for no more than six hours a day and consider purchasing a lighting timer to switch them on and off automatically.

Save big this season with LED holiday lights. Deck the halls with LED holiday strings. Replacing older incandescent lights with efficient LED lighst, such as ENERGY STAR® qualified LED lights, can use up to 99 less energy. It's a beautiful way to save on your energy bills.

Winter savings for dairy farms. A dairy farm with a herd of up to 500 cows can save an average of $3,500 each year, simply by converting from electric to natural gas water heating. Have more than 500 cows? That savings goes up to almost $6,000 a year.

Energy savings in the office. The energy used by one office worker for one day actually creates twice as many greenhouse gases as the employee's commute to work. Improve overall business efficiency by having a site evaluation, developing an energy management plan, and tapping into cash incentives from Focus on Energy for energy efficiency upgrades.