Place your mouse over the text areas to view hot tips on ways to cut energy costs.

Keep dampers closed except when the fireplace is in use. Glass doors on a fireplaces provides an extra buffer against drafts

Do not break vents with insulation and keep insulation at least 3 inches away from recessed lighting fixtures or other heat producing equipment unless it is markerd "I.C."- designed for direct insulation contact.

By simply replacing the existing shower head with a low flow shower head, homeowners can also reduce their water bills

An average household spends over 40 percent of its annual energy budget of heating and cooling costs. You could reduce those bills by up to 15 percent with ENERGY STAR ®windows

Clean or replace furnace and air-Conditioner filter monthly, and have air and heating system services annually

Based on the last winter experience with high home heating oil prices in northeast, the NYSERDA price early - well before the winter heating
Season beings. Also, being immediately planning for winter don't wait until cold arrives to attend to the physical fittness of your home

Replace conventional bulbs with compact fluorescent linghtbulbs(CFLs). CFLs use 25 percent of the energy of physical incandescent bulbs last ten times longer and generally pay back their higher recharge price in two years through lower utility bills.

Should I Insulate?

The answer is probably "Yes" if you:

Have an older home and haven't added insulation in recent servey, only 20% homes build. Before 1980 were well insulated;

Are unconfortably cold in the winter hot in the summer - adding insulating creats a more uniform temprature and increases comfort;

Build a new house or an addition, or install new siding or roofing;

Pay excessive energy bills.

Are bothered by noice from the outdoors - insulation helps to muffle sound;

Are concerned about the effect of energy use the enuironment