Josh Miller, project manager at Western Solar, said the average electric bill almost doubles in the winter because of heating.
Most apartments and houses use baseboard electric heating. In an average three-bedroom unit the electric bill will go from about $80 in the summer to about $120 in the winter.
Miller has eight years of experience with both electric and solar electric systems. While many of us lack the opportunity to make such drastic changes to our apartments or homes, it is good to be aware of all options. 
Installing a solar electric system has many benefits, both environmental and financial. A solar electric system converts sunlight into energy and generates electricity throughout your home, which greatly reduces or eliminates the monthly electric bill. 
“We usually design the systems that we install to offset 100 percent of the customer's annual out-of-pocket costs for electricity,” Miller said. “And it works no matter what the outside temperature is as long as it's sunny out.”
College students typically do not have the authority or means to choose the most energy efficient heating systems, but preserving heat and energy can be achieved through changing simple everyday routines.
Michelle Diaz, leasing agent for Painless Properties, advises her tenants to keep heat at 55 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the pipes from freezing.
“Frozen pipes are much more expensive than heating,” said Diaz. “[This is important] in the common area because that's where most of the pipes are located.”
Chelsea Jann, a junior at Western, lives off campus and is aware of how high electric bills can get. She and her roommates have made a conscious effort to keep the bill as low as possible.
“Recently we got the plastic you put over the windows for insulation,” Jann said. “We felt the windows weren't energy efficient.”
Depending on the size of the window, $25 worth of plastic from Fred Meyer covers a couple of windows.
“We don't turn on the heaters in our rooms, but we use heater blankets on our beds,” Jann added. “We have a lot of throw blankets and we wear layers.”
They also purchased a smarter space heater. “It shuts off when it hits a certain temperature,” she said. “We also got a hold of our landlord and he resealed the front door.”
Autumn Wheatley, a Western senior, lives in a small one-bedroom apartment, and said it stays warm without using the heat all the time.
“I layer my clothes and wrap up in warm blankets,” Wheatley said.
Conservation Education is a Bellingham program through Opportunity Council that works to helps customers identify energy saving procedures. The program also provides energy saving products for customers.
The program offers valuable information and tools to decrease energy bills and includes do-it-yourself insulation products such as plastic window kits.
Homeowners or renters are eligible for this program. Renters do not need their landlord's permission.
Workshops and in-home visits are available for assessments and installations of energy saving products.
Puget Sound Energy is Washington state's oldest and largest energy utility and is aware of the financial difficulties winter can bring. They offer tips and tricks to help lower the monthly electric bill.
PSE advises to turn heat off or down to the lowest comfortable setting. Sometimes heating bills are higher than necessary because homes are continually heated when people are sleeping or when no one is home.
They advise to set thermostats to 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit with a sweater on, and five degrees below that at night. Make sure windows and doors are securely shut.
If you have a large home, only heat the part of the house you spend the most time in. 
PSE also suggests keeping areas in front of baseboards and wall heaters clear of furniture or curtains that may block air flow.
Pat Rimbault, property manager for Painless Properties, also said he knows of ways to save on heating. Use ceiling fans, she said. This will help circulate the warm air from the heaters.
Also, roll up a bath towel or blanket and push it tightly against the panel at the bottom of the door leading to the outside. This will help keep the warm air in and the cold air out, she said.  A drink hot chocolate, tea and coffee to get warm from the inside out.
“Bundle up with more clothing and blankets,” Rimbault said.