Here are some more energy-saving tips to keep your utility bills low while increasing your home comfort.

4. I'm pretty used to the fact that whenever I praise the benefits of good windows, I'm going to get a lot of emails telling me what a poor financial idea this is. While good windows are really not terribly expensive, they get costly because of the number of windows in your home. But good windows help stop drafts and keep your home more comfortable while keeping out unwanted noise, pests and air pollution. When you realize that your home's doors and windows are like a hole in the envelope protecting your home, you can see that good windows and window frames are one of the best investments a homeowner can make. Today's efficient windows with low-emissivity coatings, various types of gases between the panes, and other features will not only save money and energy, but can also allow you to use smaller and cheaper heating and cooling equipment.

5. Take advantage of natural daylight whenever you can. It's healthy and offers great psychological benefits. You'll enjoy high-quality daytime light in your home, good visual comfort, and reduced problems from glare and overheating, all while replacing daytime electric lighting. Use light-colored walls, ceilings and furnishing to help bounce the natural light further into the rooms. Just be sure you use blinds, drapes or shades to control the light coming in so it's there when you want it but it stays out when you don't.

6. When buying a new home, having a professional energy auditor do an inspection can help you identify ways to save energy and enjoy lower utility bills. Most people get a home inspection to find out if there are structural or mechanical problems in the house, but the additional energy inspection can be just as valuable when you consider how much you'll be paying for utility costs every single month you live there.

7. Buying a new appliance like a refrigerator when your current one is still working might not seem to be a fiscally smart idea, but older appliances use a lot more energy than today's models do. If your refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer or other major home appliance is around 15 or more years old, then a newer model will pay back its purchase price and give you considerable energy savings over its lifetime.

8. Landscaping can do much more than just enhance the appearance of your home. It can block the hot summer sun and provide shade and lower the temperatures around your home, help allow cross-ventilation through the house, and channel the winter winds away.

9. Don't forget about the ducts. It's been estimated that more than a third of your heated and cooled air never reaches the rooms where you'd like to use it. Over time, ducts can tear or separate and allow your heated and cooled air to escape into the attic or basement while bringing dust, mold and other pollutants indoors. Leaky ducts can depressurize your home and allow outdoor air and potential combustion materials to get inside. Frankly, poorly sealed ducts can wipe out the total energy savings you'd otherwise be getting from all the other energy improvements you have done. Ducts that are tightly sealed will let you enjoy more consistent indoor comfort, better air quality, and lower utility bills. Well-sealed ducts also help keep out dust, mold, mildew, pests, pollen and fumes that can otherwise get into your home through unwanted leaks in ductwork.

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