To paraphrase Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute, “The best kilowatt is the one you don’t use.” Most of our homes have not been built with energy efficiency in mind. As much as 1/3 of our home energy is wasted, heating and cooling the great outdoors. With rising energy prices and the urgent need to reduce our carbon footprint, home energy efficiency and conservation are more important than ever.

Fortunately, the solutions are not difficult. There are two strategies: frugality and efficiency. Frugality involves behaviors that reduce energy use like turning down the thermostat, turning off lights, and taking shorter showers. Efficiency is about getting as much comfort, service and value from each unit of energy; examples include insulating our walls and attics, and purchasing energy efficient lighting and appliances.

A good place to start in reducing home energy consumption is with an energy audit to identify problems and help make good decisions about how to best conserve energy and save money. You can perform an audit yourself by carefully examining your home or using on online auditing tool (see www.energydepot.com/ampohiores or www.energystar.gov (“Home Energy Yardstick”), or you can hire a professional energy auditor who uses specialized diagnostic equipment such as a blower door and infrared camera to analyze your whole house and make cost effective recommendations.

Here are some of the best things to do to save energy at home:

• Seal all cracks and holes in the building envelope and in the ductwork, including sealing the attic hatch and fireplace (when not in use).

• Add insulation as needed in attic and walls, and around ductwork that runs through unheated spaces.

• Replace older heating and cooling systems, lighting and other energy intensive equipment with new efficient equipment.

• Upgrade windows by adding storm windows or window insulator kits in the winter.

• Install a programmable thermostat, and keep the thermostat lower in the winter when you are not home or are sleeping, and keep it higher in the summer.

• Use a fan to keep cool in summer, instead of an air conditioner.

• Turn down the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees, and insulate the water tank and the first 6 feet of hot and cold water lines.

• Eliminate phantom electric loads by plugging home electronics into power strips and then turnings these off when not in use.

• Install low flow shower heads and faucets and minimize hot water use.

• Replace furnace filters monthly and get furnace serviced yearly.

• In winter close drapes at night, and open during the day, especially for southern facing windows.

Sealing up and insulting your home will not only save energy and money, it will make your home more durable, safe and comfortable. Conserving energy makes you less vulnerable to energy price and supply fluctuations, and makes our country less dependent of foreign oil. It is an easy way to reduce CO2 emissions and preserve fossil fuels for future generations.

For 2009 the federal government has extended tax credits for energy efficient home improvements–windows, doors, roofs, insulation, HVAC, and non-solar water heaters (not retroactive to 2008). For more information on these and other energy efficiency tax credits, see www.energystar.gov. Get information from the Tax Incentives Assistance Program www.energytaxincentives.org.

The Ohio Energy Office offers financial incentives to industry, businesses and residents for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. For more information visit www.energy.development.ohio.gov.

Kevin Eigel, a certified energy auditor with Ecohouse LLC, www.ecohouseohio.com states that if you follow the auditor’s recommendations, your savings will easily pay for the cost of the audit within a year. Kevin also is available to do many of the upgrades needed. Some Ohio utilities will soon be offering rebates for home energy audits and other energy efficiency measures, including Columbia Gas of Ohio and American Electric Power.