STAR OF THE ENERGY DEPT.

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy aimed at helping consumers save money and protect the environment through the use of energy-efficient products.

All sorts of consumer goods carry the ENERGY STAR rating, from appliances to home electronics: what brands, where to find them, and any rebates offered are listed on the ENERGY STAR Web site, which also offers detailed info on energy use in general. Visit www.energystar.gov.

According to the EPA, Americans, using ENERGY STAR products, saved enough energy in 2006 to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars -- and they trimmed $14 billion off their collective utility bills.

Energy Smarts: Tips for Keeping the Heat Indoors

Kevin Beck, CEO of Renu in San Anselmo, runs one of a new breed of businesses that specialize in energy audits and healthy home inspections, services that can help reduce both our energy usage and our utility bills. But as he advises here, there are things we can do almost immediately to reduce our energy (and heat) drain.

-- If you have a ceiling fan, turn it to low and reverse the rotation to clockwise, that creates an updraft. Heat rises; the updraft will help circulate the heat back down to your level.

-- Open drapes on south- or southwest-facing windows during the day. The sun heats up the walls and floors (wood soaks up more than carpeting). The warmth will continue to radiate into the evening, when curtains are closed.

-- If you don't use your fireplace, close the damper. Even better, get a plug, also called a "pillow," that safely fits into the chimney to stop air from escaping.

-- Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees, which is hot enough for most residential needs. (You can check your water temperature by running hot water over a thermometer.) Note: 120 degrees is just above "medium" on the water heater dial.

-- The leading cause of heating and cooling equipment failure: dirt and neglect. Change furnace pads every three months; get the system checked once a year.

-- Invest in a programmable thermostat. It can save you $150 a year by regulating heat and cooling use.

-- Duct check: Typical duct leakage in California is gauged at 30 percent, which means for every dollar spent heating your home, 30 cents is lost to the outdoors. Also make note: Your attic may be insulated, but is the hatch? Should be.

-- Keep floor heat registers open and accessible. Placing furniture or rugs over the registers strains the system and wastes energy.

-- Mold loves winter, because that's when bathrooms and kitchens tend to get steamy, since windows are generally closed tight. If you have a bath fan, keep it running for 15 minutes after people take showers.

-- Winter is a great time to retire that old fridge still humming away in the garage. Older-model refrigerators are very energy inefficient. Don't use it? Lose it.

-- Cooking smarts: Using a 6-inch pot on an 8-inch burner wastes 40 percent of the heat.

Solar Heater Rebates

Good news for solar power: The state of California plans to offer rebates for installing solar hot water heaters. Heating water accounts for nearly 20 percent of our home energy use (and the natural gas charges on our utility bills). By using these efficient solar alternatives, we can cut costs and CO2 emissions equivalent to driving a car 2,043 miles.

The California Public Utilities Commission will determine the rebate amount, following the results of a pilot program in San Diego. Solar water heaters cost upwards of $8,000, including installation. Visit www.cpuc.ca.gov for more information.