Depending on where you live and how much insulation you already have, adding more can trim heating and cooling costs anywhere from 10% to 50%.

• A home owner in the Northeast with an uninsulated attic, for instance, can save about $600 a year by adding about 15 inches of insulation (R-38) between the rafters, according to the Energy Department.

• Just 6 inches can net annual savings of about $200.

Energy audits uncover even more ways to save energy

Besides adding new insulation, conduct a whole-house energy audit to find other ways to reduce power consumption and save even more on monthly bills.

Caulk around drafty windows and doors, and stop gaps in siding and the foundation, says Matt Golden, president and founder of San Francisco-based Sustainable Spaces. Reducing a home’s air leakage by 25% can lower annual energy costs by about $300, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

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