(NAPSA)—Fall is home improvement season and a great time to think about making improvements that will save moneyall year long. Leaky ducts, drafty windows and aging heating or cooling equipmentall inflate your energy bill. Here are home improvement ideas that will conserve your energy dollars while keeping you more comfortable in all seasons. Ensure that your home’s entire system (i.e., furnace, heat pump, air conditioner) is energy efficient. Leaky ducts decrease the overall energy efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent. Sealing ducts increases efficiency and lowers yourutility bills. Seal air leaks in yourceiling, outer walls, windowsandfloors. Add insulation to attic and walls to preserve your home’s comfortlevel. Make sure your house can breathe to avoid mold problems. * Install Energy Star qualified equipment and if you’re installing new windows choose windows bearing the Energy Starseal. Have your home’s heating system checked by a NATEcertified technician. North American Technician Excellence, or NATE, is the nation’s largest nonprofit certification organization for heating, ven- tilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians. The U.S. Department of Energy endorses NATEfor raising quality standards and energy efficiency. To locate a contractor employing NATE-certified technicians, visit the Consumer Contractor Connection at www.natex.org.
