About half of our energy expenses come from cooling and heating our homes. Sealing leaks and adding insulation are inexpensive and easy ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, fixing poor insulation and reducing drafts can save an average home up to 20 percent on utility bills saving hundreds of dollars a year. Areas that need the most attention are basements, attics, crawl spaces, around doors, around windows, and around recessed lighting fixtures. Simple caulk and weather stripping are inexpensive ways to seal leaks, and are available at any local hardware store.

The best thing you can do to start making your home more energy efficient is to get a professional home audit. The results of an energy audit can recommend changes to your home that can save you thousands of dollars a year in energy costs. Call your local utility company to see if they offer a free energy audit to their customers, many of them do.

THE FACTS

Fixing poor insulation and reducing drafts can save an average home up to 20 percent on utility bills, saving hundreds of dollars a year.