When you were younger, did your mother ever tell you to close the door because "we aren't paying to heat the outdoors"? Now that you're a homeowner and the one paying the bills, it suddenly starts to make a lot more sense.

According to the US Department of Energy, almost half of a typical home's utility bills are spent on heating and cooling.

The key to energy efficiency when heating or cooling a house is through the use of proper insulation on the 'envelope' of the home. Sealing your home against the unwanted exchange of air with the outdoors will provide you with optimum savings. A good start is to have a home energy assessment done by a RESNET certified professional.

A certified RESNET Home Energy Auditor will identify problem areas in your home and give you the best advice on cost effective methods of improving your overall energy efficiency.

A certified RESNET Home Energy Auditor will provide you with an objective and technically proficient assessment of your home's energy efficiency. They will also guide you on the best methods to correct areas where improvement is necessary in order to save you money on your monthly utility bills.