The first cold blast of the season is upon us. Here are some simple ways to stay warm and save energy as the temperature plunges:

Cue the curtains. During clear days, leave curtains open on the sunny side of the house to let in the warmth. Keep curtains closed on the shady side and close them everywhere at night.

Keep ’em clear. Make sure furniture, draperies or doors don’t block heating outlets or return air registers.

Befriend the ceiling fan. Your ceiling fans can help move warm air trapped above and circulate it back into the room. Be sure the fan is set in reverse.

Don’t forget the filters. Replace your heating system filters monthly. Clogged filters make your system work harder, which means it’s using more energy.

Tweak the thermostat. Set your thermostat at 68°F during the day, and even lower overnight. Every degree you drop it means more energy savings. Using an electric blanket is one way to stay toasty at night while lowering the overnight temperature in the house. Donning your favorite sweater can keep you warmer while setting the thermostat a little lower. What won’t help you save energy is moving the thermostat up and down all day, so find the right temperatures for you, day and night, and stick with them.

Down with drafts. A little caulking or weather-stripping can go a long way in reducing heat loss and keeping chill winds out. Seek out cracks around windows and doors and plug them up. Consider adding insulation in the attic and crawl spaces.

Wrap that water heater. Your water heater is your home’s second-largest energy user. Turn down the temperature of the water to 120 degrees, which is safer for children but still comfortable for most people. Save more by wrapping an insulating blanket around your hot water heater. They are inexpensive and available at most hardware or home improvement stores.