Turn off lights, TVs and radios when you don't need them. Electricity is needed to run the blower on your gas furnace. Clean out your hot-water heater to help it run more efficiently. The best defense is a fully insulated home with weather-efficient windows and doors. These save an average of 25 percent in fuel costs, said Rich Gadacz, who runs the weatherization program for REAL Services in northern Indiana.
Federal money pays for such improvements for people with low incomes.
You're eligible in Indiana if you own your home and your household income is 125 percent or less of the federal poverty level. In Michigan, eligibility depends on income level and family size and whether or not you receive aid through the welfare office. News coverage and editorial content provided by the South Bend Tribune unless otherwise specified.