Yes, running things to save is a bit of an art. We have a programmable thermostat for our furnace, and a "smart meter" for our hydro (electricity for non-Canucks). We pay less for energy used during off-peak times. We're also on a pro-ration program with our natural gas: we a pay a little more in the summer in order to take the "bite" off the increased usage in the winter.

I also close off the doors to rooms I'm not using (mostly at night) so we don't heat them unnecessarily. And I open all the curtains on the windows that are getting direct sunlight, to take advantage of the radiant heat, while closing them on windows that are not in the sun (and I'm not looking out of).