When winter weather comes, dollar for dollar, nothing beats the cost efficiency of a gas furnace. It's cheaper to operate than steam, coal, oil, propane, even a heat pump (for heating a large area like your whole house). But unless you're having a party, why waste energy and dollars heating the whole place? Instead, consider using a portable electric space heater. "They're inefficient and expensive to operate," you say? You're right. Sort of. While they are the most expensive heat source to operate when used to heat single rooms and small areas, you don't need to always heat your whole house. Sometimes it's efficient to heat only the spaces you're occupying. If you want to save money this season, try using an electric space heater to warm just the room you're in, instead of heating your whole house with the gas furnace. Choose a heater that's UL-approved and one with a tip-over warning device. And that's the On The House tip for today.