Heat water efficiently. Invest in a “tankless” hot-water heater that starts only “on-demand,” or in a solar water-heating system. Besides cutting costs, both can qualify you for a federal tax credit.
Bolster insulation. “Exterior walls, basements, and attics” are usually problem spots. “Fill the cavity any time a wall is open.” Use environmentally sensible insulators, such as “soy-based foams, loose-fill cellulose, and denim,” and opt for the one with the highest thermal resistance, or R-value.
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