Simple steps to save money on winter energy bills

This winter's weather is going to play an important role in home heating costs. And, with fuel prices rising, keeping a house warm and cozy without breaking the bank takes some planning.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) can help make a home more energy-efficient, giving residents some control over energy usage while maintaining home comfort. With the Home Performance with Energy Star® Program, homes of any size or style can be improved to reduce energy consumption by up to 40 percent. Through this program, a participating Building Performance Institute (BPI)-certified Home Performance contractor performs a comprehensive home assessment. During the assessment, the contractor will perform a number of tests on the home to determine what areas will benefit from energy efficiency upgrades. Specifically, the contractor tests the home for air leakage, and looks for opportunities to improve the home's insulation, heating and cooling system, windows, appliances and lighting.

A participating contractor can also conduct tests to identify health and safety issues, such as high levels of carbon monoxide. Next the contractor identifies what improvements can be made, as well as the cost of making the improvements. If the homeowner decides to go forward with any of the work, the fee for the assessment, which can be up to $250, will be credited towards the cost of the work performed by the participating BPI-certified Home Performance contractor. There are also a number of financing options available to help pay for making the improvements.

Whether you live in an old or new home, inefficient heating/cooling systems, insufficient or improperly installed insulation and air leaks through cracks and gaps in the attic or basement are common culprits that increase energy usage and waste money. In addition to high energy bills, homeowners may not be getting the comfort they expect. Many homes have rooms that are too hot or cold, or have drafts, poor indoor air quality and ice build-up on the roof that can cause structural damage. These may be common signs that the house is not sealed, insulated or heated properly.

Some ideas to keep your home energy-efficient this winter include:

•Double check storm windows and drafty doors - To button up your house for the winter, make sure that storm windows are down and secure. Lock double hung windows to be sure that they are sealed. Otherwise, you may not notice that the window is open a crack at the top where cold air can leak into the house. Add weather-stripping to drafty doors.

•Check heat registers - Make sure that carpet, furniture or other objects aren't blocking heating vents and radiators, which can affect air circulation and cause systems to be imbalanced.

•Turn down thermostats - Turning down your thermostat by a few degrees during the night or while you're away also helps control heating bills. Many models of thermostats can be digitally programmed to set back temperatures.

•Control lighting costs - As the days remain shorter, lights stay on longer. Simply turning off unnecessary lights can have a tremendous impact on utility bills. Also consider replacing existing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).

For information on how to improve the comfort of your home and save money at the same time, including a list of participating BPI-certified Home Performance contractors, homeowners may visit www.GetEnergySmart.org or call toll-free 1-877-NY-SMART.