As nice as it is to see the days getting longer, there’s still plenty of cold weather to get through before spring arrives. That means there’s also time to take another look at ways to cut heating bills. So I’m dedicating this month’s column to recapping some tips that will help to increase comfort and lower expenses.

There are many do-it-yourself steps folks can take to improve heating efficiency in their homes. Perhaps the easiest is to be sure that furniture and draperies are kept away from heating baseboards and vents. A clear path for the heated air to rise helps it to circulate efficiently throughout the room.

A ceiling fan, set on low and turning in the opposite direction from when it’s used for cooling, is another good way to circulate heated air. This is especially important for rooms with high ceilings. And for homes with old-fashioned radiators, placing a sheet of aluminum foil between the radiator and the wall will help to reflect heat back into the room.

Keeping south-facing draperies and shades open on sunny days will put natural radiant heat to work for you. The sun’s rays will warm the objects in the room and help maintain the warmer temperature longer than heated air alone. Remember to close them again at night though.

Adjusting thermostats to a lower temperature is one of the most effective ways to save on heating costs and one that I’ve discussed at length. Programmable thermostats work well for this because they do it automatically. NSTAR customers can get a $25 rebate on up to two qualifying thermostats.

To see what programs and rebates are available to help you stay warm this winter, click on “Energy Efficiency” in the left-side menu above. You’ll find more energy saving tips, and information about home energy assessments and available rebates.

In my next column, I’ll discuss enhancements to our efficiency programs for 2010.