Insulation: Seal up savings

Ducts

• Get your air ducts sealed by a professional HVAC contractor. According to the Department of Energy, you can lose up to 40 percent of your heated or cooled air through leaks in your ductwork.

Attic

• Add insulation to your attic. Purchase insulation with a high R-value (the higher the R-value, the better it will work).
• Install an attic fan to make sure your attic is properly ventilated. An attic fan eliminates warm air in the summer, which can help regulate the temperature in your home.

Walls

• Use caulking, sealant or weather-stripping to weatherize all seams, cracks and openings around windows, doors and baseboards, as well as the small openings around television cables, dryer vents and plumbing pipes.

Roof

• Keep the insulation in your attic dry and effective by repairing leaks in your roof.