As the wind blows a bit chillier across Central NY and fuel prices rise, it's the season homeowner's thinks about bundling up their homes and trimming utility bills.

This year, in addition to coaching existing homeowners on how to button up their houses for the winter, the state and local contractors have taken steps to assure that new homes are as energy efficient as they can be. Some of those guidelines, as well as the inexpensive energy-saving strategies in the article, can help hold down fuel costs all year.

....Together heating and cooling account for 44 percent of the household energy use, the biggest portion, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That, along with the comfort factor, puts weather stripping and insulation at the top of the list for energy-conscious householders. Lighting and most appliances account for another 33 percent of the household energy bill, while water heaters at 14 percent and refrigerators at 9 percent round out the total.

...Adding insulation helps with both seasonal extremes, and it's cost effective. "Its one of the few things you can do that guarantees a return on your investment," said Joseph Branagan, owner of Classic Carpentry and Construction in Syracuse and an EnergyStar participating contractor.

...The higher the R-value, the better. Loose-fill cellulose, which is made out of recycled paper treated with fire retardant, comes in next with an R-value of 3.4 per inch after settling, according to the Department of Energy. Fiberglass batts offer R-3.0. Loose-fill rock wool provides R-2.8 and loose fill fiberglass R-2.5. ..."Cellulose is definitely the most environmentally friendly" Branagan said, because it's paper rather than petro-chemical-based and is a recycled product. The Department of Energy has some pretty high recommendations for insulation levels in Central New York. For attics it recommends an insulation rating of R-49, walls R-18 to 28, floors R-25, crawl spaces R-19 and in basements R-10-19.

The effectiveness of the insulation however, all depends upon how well it's sealed, said Branagan, whose companies each conduct blower door tests to evaluate homes.

Air leaks are common around door and window frames, spots where pipes or vents enter the home and are often overlooked around attic or basement doors, Branagan said. ...Shoppers should look for the EnergyStar label and orange EnergyStar Guide tags that provide information about how one model of an appliance compares to others of its kind in energy and cost efficiency. Some Energy Guide tags provide a numeric rating of energy efficiency; others offer a cost comparison on what it costs to operate the appliance for the year.....