The global trend today is to save energy. Save energy not just to save money but to save the earth. That’s why there are governments particularly the US government giving out incentives to homes, offices and industries that are doing improvement in the aspect of saving energy.

Below is a list of areas where we can apply some very practical energy saving measures for the coming winter. This is to help people save energy and protect the environment.

Heaters and Filters. Heaters use more energy when the filter is full of dust. Change the air filter in your furnace each month.

Blinds and Drapes. Keep blinds and drapes open during the day to capture sunlight and let the warm light in. Close them on winter nights to keep the heat in.

Insulation. Insulate hot water tanks, hot water pipes and heating ducts. An un-insulated basement can account for up to 33% of the total energy loss in the house per the Department of Energy. Your house should have adequate insulation in your ceiling. An attic with at least 6" of insulation is efficient or at least 2" over the top of the ceiling joists.

Caulking and weather-stripping. Caulk around windows, doors and other cracks to eliminate air escape. Secure weather stripping at the foot of your door to stop drafts. Seal holes where conduits and pipes enter the attic and along partition walls, eaves, and knee walls. You can use caulk or compressed fiberglass insulation. This can result in energy savings of 10 percent or more.

Energy Audit. Contact your local utility about a home energy audit. Many utilities offer audits for a small fee ($15-$40) or conduct a do-it-yourself home energy audit.

Lighting. Use compact fluorescent bulbs. They use about one-fourth the energy an incandescent uses with the same light quality and last 10 times as long.

Shower. Low-flow shower heads reduce water use by 50 percent or more - a standard shower head uses about five to seven gallons of water per minute.

Freezer and Refrigerator. Having a top freezer model can reduce energy use by 10-25% more than side-by-side models, and refrigerators without automatic ice makers and through-the-door dispensers could save you 14-20% energy usage. Don't allow frost build up of more than one-quarter of an inch. Refrigerators 15 years old or more cost twice as much to run as today's energy efficient.

Other applicances. When buying new appliances, whether it is TV, water heater, washing machine, invest in a new model to cut spending in half.

Dishwasher. Only run your dishwasher with a full load. You can't control the amount of water your dishwasher uses, but you can control the number of loads you have to do.

Avoid using heat dry and pre-rinse features. Instead use your dishwasher's air-dry option.
Make sure your dishwasher has the Energy Star label.

Laundry. Switch your wash temperature from hot to cold to cut your energy use in half and reduce your bill. Wash and dry full loads for optimal efficiency. Dry towels and heavy-weight articles in separate loads. Don't overload the dryer or over-dry clothes. Clean the dryer's lint trap after every load to improve circulation. Use a cool-down cycle to finish drying your clothes with residual dryer heat. Do your laundry all at once to take advantage of a warm dryer.

Tax credits. There are available tax credits for many types of home improvements including adding insulation, replacement windows, and certain high efficiency heating and cooling equipment. The maximum homeowner credit is up to $500.