According to a recent Angus Reid survey conducted for Direct Energy, nearly half of all Canadians report domestic discontent over the temperatures in their homes.

But ‘thermo-spats,’ as the Direct Energy survey calls them, can be avoided in a few ways.

If you can agree on ways to make your energy consumption habits more energy efficient, ‘thermo-spats’ have a higher likelihood of decreasing, since 63 per cent of male respondents reported that they were in charge of the thermostat in their home, while 67 per cent of women reported the same finding.

And while almost twice as many Canadians (86 per cent) say they are motivated to make their homes energy efficient in order to save money while only half (49 per cent) do so to help save the planet, tree-hugging citizens will be happy to know that saving money equates to less energy use.

"There are a number of simple ways to make your home more energy efficient which drive savings and energy conservation," said Dave Walton, Director of Home Ideas at Direct Energy. "We want to help empower consumers to shift their good intentions to be more energy efficient into actions. For example, installing a programmable thermostat will help to stabilize the temperature inside the home which will lead to savings on energy bills. Now that's a benefit no one would argue about."

Up to 30 per cent of a home's heating and cooling costs can be lost through poorly fitted windows and doors, according to Direct Energy. Caulk and weather strip around windows and doors or upgrade to new, more energy efficient windows to reduce energy consumption, which can save you approximately $150 per year on your energy bill.

“Windows are an excellent first step [in energy reduction] because often they need to be replaced anyway,” said Cheryl Gladu, co-founder of EcoCité, a national eco-development and consulting group.

Replacing windows for better insulation can save both energy and money because better insulation will limit draftiness by controlling air exchanges. This will minimize the energy production necessary for heating and cooling your home. The Energy Efficiency Fund (EEF) will pay up to $500 to Gaz Métro Clients who use energy-efficient windows and five dollars per square foot of ENERGY STAR qualified energy-efficient sliding doors and windows installed in the home.

Another option is switching to a programmable thermostat, said Emmanuel Blain Cosgrove, Director of www.EcoHabitation.com, a LEED certification provider. Turn it up during the day when nobody is home, and at night when outdoor temperatures are cooler. By raising the thermostat's temperature by five degrees Celsius at night, homeowners could save 10 per cent on their energy bill, according to Direct Energy.

"Anything you can do to keep the home cooler while not putting on the air conditioner will save you money,” said Walton, who also suggests turning the air conditioning off, or temperature up, at night. Even a five-degree difference can save 10 per cent on the energy bill.