Q: My husband and I want to get an energy audit of our home and are having difficulty locating a company. Can you give me any ideas on how to locate an independent company that has no vested interest in selling doors, windows, or a new furnace?

A: There are public-utility and government sites in every state that offer step-by-step information on do-it-yourself home-energy audits, but it is probably wise to bring in a qualified professional to do the work.

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More energy-savings tips. Energy prices are rising about as fast as consumers can reduce consumption, so the goal is to be a little ahead of the utility bills.

The Alliance to Save Energy offers some energy-saving tips tailored to the depth of winter.

Conduct a "draft check." Your heating dollars could be going out your windows, doors, and electrical outlets. Check for air leaks throughout your home; look around doors, windows, fixtures, electrical outlets, wiring, plumbing, and fireplace dampers. Turn it into a family activity. Draft-proofing is the least expensive energy-efficiency investment with the biggest payoff.

Plug those air leaks. Seal leaks between doors or windows (and their frames) with weather stripping and between window frames and walls with sealant or caulk.

Install door sweeps on the insides of exterior doors. Cold air can seep in under doors. Solution: Door sweeps are cheap and keep the draft out. No sweeps available? Even a rolled-up towel or blanket will help. And consider twin or dual draft guards on both sides of doors where you feel drafts.

Open curtains and other window treatments on your west- and south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to make it harder for warm air to escape. If you are purchasing new drapes, consider an insulated lining, which reduces both heating and cooling bills.

Freezing by your windows? If that's the case, and you've already plugged those window leaks and can't afford new high-efficiency windows, consider purchasing a kit containing sheets of plastic film to tape over the inside of your windows. Use a hair dryer to create a tight fit.

Consider insulating drafty electrical outlets. Use light-switch foam insulation pads and wall-jack foam insulation pads on outlets on colder exterior walls.

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Spring cleaning. As I write this, another snowstorm has just passed my window, and spring seems ever so far away.

In other words, "Spring? What's that?"

Sarcasm aside, Consumer Reports' March issue offers some spring-cleaning dos and don'ts.

"Most people change the sheets, flip the mattress and vacuum the baseboards, but spring cleaning can be taken a step further to a deep clean," says Pat Slaven, program leader for Consumer Reports. "Take advantage of this time of year to not only organize your home but also save money by tackling the tasks that you may have hired out in the past."

Here are a couple of hints:

Ceiling fans: Fan blades and housing should be cleaned with a damp cloth and all-purpose cleaner or a mix of water and mild liquid dish detergent, unless the care information says otherwise.

Do make annual cleaning easier by dusting blades once a season with a U-shaped brush. The blade fits inside the U, so both sides are cleaned simultaneously.

Don't forget to dry the blades thoroughly. Damp blades attract dust.

Windows: For streak-free glass, apply cleaner to windows with a slightly dampened sponge. Wipe across the window with a dampened squeegee blade, then wipe the blade. Don't clean windows in the sun. Direct sunlight can cause the cleaner to evaporate before it is wiped off.