Þ Install a programmable or setback thermostat to automatically turn down heat when people are not at home and during sleeping hours.

Þ Repair those dripping hot water faucets that send money down the drain 24 hours a day.

Þ Install low-flow showerheads and cut your hot water consumption for showering by 30 - 40 percent.

Þ Change your furnace filter at least once a month.

Þ Install compact fluorescent light bulbs in lamps and fixtures you use the most. This step alone can save you $35 a year or more if you change out five 100 - watt incandescent light bulbs.

Þ Install floor insulation in your basement or crawls spaces.

Þ Check the insulation R-Values in your attic. It should be R-38 or greater. (How to determine your R-Value)

Þ Caulk and weatherstrip around all windows and doors, install foam gaskets behind electrical cover plates on exterior walls. Caulk and seal all cracks, openings and gaps on the exterior of your home.

Þ The next step is to have an Infrared Energy Audit performed on your home to discover the major openings and air leaks and to determine the overall "tightness" of your homes building envelope.