The Department of Energy offers consumers tips for saving energy costs during the winter (www.energy.gov/winter.htm).

The agency recommends that window shades and draperies facing south be left open during the day to let in sunlight. Shades and draperies should be closed at night to reduce the winter chill coming through windows.

Home thermostats should be set as low as is comfortable.

Lowering thermostats from 72 degrees to 65 degrees for eight-hour periods each day can result in heating bill savings of up to 10 percent.

Since heating can account for almost half of the average family's winter energy bill, home heating equipment should be properly maintained.

Professional maintenance of furnaces or heat pumps is important. Filters for home furnaces should be changed regularly.

If you replace heating elements, consider buying Energy Star-labeled products for energy savings. Information on the Energy Star program is available at www.energystar.gov.

Make sure that your home is properly weatherized. It is important to properly caulk and weather strip all of the windows and doors that leak air.

The agency suggests that you check the insulation in your ceilings, exterior and basement walls, attic, floors, and crawl spaces. Insulation should meet the levels recommended for the region in which you live.

The Department of Energy maintains a ZIP Code Insulation Program to provide consumers with the most economic insulation level for your new or existing house. The program's Web site can be found at www.ornl.gov/~roofs/Zip/ZipHome.html.

Opinions expressed solely are those of the writer. Joseph Pellicciotti is a lawyer, professor and associate vice chancellor at Indiana University Northwest.