Energy tips

1- If you have an office in the basement or other contained spaces, rather than raising the temperature of your whole home, buy a space heater with a timer and a thermostat or multiple heat settings, all of which prevent overheating the room.
 
2- Replace weather-stripping around doors and windows. Spend more on a higher quality product for a tighter seal.   Install one that has a lot of flexibility, especially on a front main entrance metal door.
 
3- Do an inspection of your basement exterior walls.  Pass your hand or light up a candle and locate air leakage.  If it's a small cavity, apply loose insulation.  If it's a larger cavity apply spray foam insulation. Check all pipe intrusions through foundation walls, especially vent pipes from hot water tanks, and furnace venting pipes to the outdoor.  You will 5 to 15% on heat loss - guaranteed.