Let the warm sunlight in to help lower heating bills and reduce the need for additional lighting.

Closed window dressings help keep rooms cooler and prevent the loss of cooled air. This is particularly helpful on extremely hot days.

Keep direct sunlight from shining into rooms and you'll not only keep everyone cooler, you'll also reduce cooling costs.

It can significantly reduce the amount of direct sunshine entering through windows, thereby reducing cooling costs. A contractor specializing in energy efficiency can help select the right products for your application.

Awnings can reduce solar-heat gain in the summer by up to 65% on South-facing windows and up to 77% on West-facing windows. An awning manufacturer can help you select the appropriate product to maximize energy efficiency.

Significant amounts of warmth in winter and coolness in summer escape up the chimney. A fireplace insert will dramatically reduce these losses. Hire a chimney maintenance or weatherization vendor to install fireplace inserts. Keep your damper closed unless a fire is burning to prevent up to 8% of heated air from going up the chimney.

They block radiant heat transfer across open spaces while allowing moisture to pass through. Radiant barriers are inexpensive and relatively easy to install. They're typically installed below or below and above your regular attic insulation.

Windows, skylights or doors with a window all help provide light to areas that are dark during the day, which will ultimately reduce the need to use artificial lighting.

Crawlspaces are prone to moisture-related problems and are hard to inspect and maintain. Crawlspace encapsulation, in which a high-performance vapor barrier isolates the crawlspace from the ground and outside air, will address chronic humidity, mold and other unhealthy crawlspace conditions.

It will improve the appearance of your home, while making it more comfortable and energy efficient. Work with a contractor or product vendor to determine the best product for your home. A minimum R value of 3.0 is recommended.