I’m typing with a steaming mug of tea and a dog warming up my toes. Because baby, it’s cold outside. And buckle up — it’s going to be a frigid, pipe-freezin’ weekend.

Our house is old and not super efficient – that’s a post for another day – and letting the dog out every time she sees a squirrel (or leaf) brings in a frigid draft. But in order to feel cozy our household is emitting tens of thousands of pounds of CO2 (estimate what your household’s carbon emissions are using the EPA’s calculator).

I don’t know about you all, but my last utility bill was rough. And we don’t keep it that warm! But when the temperatures dip our furnaces are working extra hard to maintain the same temperature. Nonetheless, I’m taking steps to make sure our carbon emissions are reduced even during the current cold spell. For one, I’m keeping the house relatively cool. I run cold, but I can always put on another sweater or pair of socks – really, if you’re in shorts and a t-shirt in the dead of winter you’re doing it wrong.

Is it worth it? Yes. By reducing your home’s temperature by merely one degree overnight, you can save roughly 1,000 pounds of CO2 from being emitted (as well as saving a good deal of money). And the bigger your home, the more you are emitting — which comes with more responsibility to offset your emissions and more room to do so.

I highly recommend a smart thermostat, such as one by Nest (ComEd often provides discounts). If I forget to turn the heat down before I leave the house, or even if I’m too lazy to go downstairs, I can use the app to do so remotely. I also have schedules set to, for instance, turn the heat down overnight and back up just prior to waking up.

This is one super simple step you can take to reduce your own carbon emissions – even by tens of thousands of pounds per month. Being warm is an absolute luxury, and there is no need to harm the planet even more by turning your place into a sauna.