Insulate your attic floor or top floor ceiling to reduce winter heat loss. No matter how you heat your home, insulation can reduce the load on your equipment and the strain on your wallet. Your exact needs will depend on the energy source you use to heat your home and the amount of insulation you already have. For guidance on home insulation check with your electric or gas utility company and talk with a reputable insulation dealer in your community or with your local building inspector. Consider installing storm windows and doors.
Storm windows can be both energy-efficient and convenient.
Inexpensive, temporary alternatives range from a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame to clear plastic film which can be taped to the inside of the window frames. Any of these types of protection can result in cost savings of as much as15 percent a year. If you're ready to make your home more efficient, many utility companies and cooperatives offer low or no-cost energy audits to identify areas where homes waste energy and money. Or, write to EREC at P.O. Box 3048, Merrifield, Virginia 22116. Remember - saving energy saves dollars and makes sense.