Energy Savings...The Little Things

I assume you've done all the "big things" to save heating dollars at your house, like 12-14" of blown attic insulation and storm or new vinyl windows.  If so, you're probably realizing 30% to 50% savings--if your house is older than about 15 years old and you'd done nothing.
These latest natural gas price hikes beg for some additional savings.  This list, as I said on the air, is the Top 15 list of marginal energy savers which, taken in the aggregate, could save another 10-20 % of that ever-increasing utility bill of yours.  If you have some others, please go back to the Home Page and e-mail them to me
Thanks for listening, Ken Moon
1.  Insulate that big garage door with 2" Styrofoam     panels, or, better yet, install a new insulated door.
2.  Make sure that any flapper vents--bath fans, range or dryer--close completely when not in use.
3.  Install foam pads under plug and switch plates on exterior walls.
4.  Insulate the floor over the crawl space, even if there is insulation on the exterior.  Use 6" (R-19) batts without paper.  If you can't find unfaced material, it's  easy to strip off.  Close all but one crawl space (or attic) vent; but check to see that you're not blocking up any required combustion air source for the furnace or water heater.
5.  Install an electronic  day/night setback thermostat--but don't set it back more than 10 degrees in each cycle.
6.  Insulate any electric water heater and your gas-fired model, too, if it's in a colder space, like a garage or crawl space.
7.  Chink fiberglass insulation up under the siding, where it meets the foundation (canned foam works well, too).
8.  Caulk and weather strip all windows and doors.  You may done so already, but caulking shrinks.  Don't forget the gap where brick meets wood.
9.  Use fluorescent light bulbs in lamps and other fixtures.
10.  Consider a new furnace.  If yours is older than 20 years or so, it may be so inefficient that a new one will pay for itself in 6 or 7 heating seasons.
11.  Add window coverings--like pleated or foil-backed insulated shades to trap a layer of insulating air next to the window.
12.  If you have older windows, install interior storm windows.  You can buy hard plastic sliding versions with a track kit at the home center;  or use those shrinkable plastic sheet systems you fasten along the window jamb (but don't forget to leave a flap at the bottom for ventilation.
13.  Install glass fireplace doors  If you have a retrofitted gas log in an existing wood burning fireplace, your dollar bills are floating up the chimney (although I'll admit it's hard to put a price on their romantic ambiance).   Gas fireplace inserts--with a top and bottom vent--are much better.
14.  Replace furnace filters often--at least once a month in the heating season, more often if you have pets or allergic folks in your family.
15.  Cover hot water pipes in cold spaces--like crawl--with split styrofoam pipe insulation.