If you have a fireplace or freestanding stove in your home, you’re a candidate for zone heating. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling accounts for 56 percent of energy use in a typical U.S. home. That can add up to be a healthy sum of money, but zone heating the areas where you spend the most time can help to reduce your annual spend.

Here’s how it works. Most of us have central furnaces, which push large amounts of heat through the duct system and are designed to heat all areas of the house equally. With zone heating, you can reduce your energy consumption by simply turning down the central thermostat and using your gas-, wood-, or pellet-burning stove or fireplace to heat your main living area. Many fireplaces and stoves manufactured today can heat large areas. Examples are the Harman P68 pellet stove and Harman TL 300 wood stove. However, most energy efficient fireplaces and freestanding stoves are capable of zone heating, depending on the size of the room.

Many furnaces have 90+ percent efficiency at the appliance, but by the time heat is pushed through the duct system, the level of efficiency can be lower. Hearth products deliver heat directly into the room, providing warmth immediately. The bottom line is this – zone heating can contribute to less fuel consumption, saving energy and saving you money.

We call it “heating where you live.” The Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association calls it efficient, since depending on your circumstances, zone heating can reduce heating bills by as much as 20-40 percent.

With winter on the horizon and heating bills looming, why not give it a go?