Households can expect cheaper heating fuel this winter, but early snowstorms and cold weather is already putting some areas in the deep freeze, indicating a longer, colder winter could strip households of the cost savings.

If you want to realize a real reduction in heating costs this year, stretch your heating fuel with earnest attention to conservation measures.

This week, when the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced its "Short-Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook" with both good and bad news.

The outlook forecasts natural gas and propane prices will be lower this winter, while heating oil prices would be flat with the price of electricity up slightly, compared to last winter.

Unfortunately, the coming winter is forecast to be 5.9 percent colder than last year according to DOE's analysis of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather outlook, and that's likely to cause an increase in heating fuel consumption, offsetting much of the savings from reduced costs.

"On average, households heating primarily with natural gas are expected to spend about $119 (13 percent) less this winter in fuel expenditures. Households heating primarily with heating oil can expect to pay, on average, $91 (6 percent) more this winter. Households heating primarily with propane can expect to pay, on average, $15 (1 percent) less this winter. Households heating primarily with electricity can expect, on average, to pay $58 (7 percent) more," the outlook says.

Meanwhile, Weather.com reported an early winter storm had already gathered over the Great Lakes area and was expected to peak Thursday (Oct. 12), remaining stationery with blustery snow conditions at least through Friday (Oct. 13).

"By Friday, the cold air mass will have spread across the entire eastern two-thirds of the nation, bringing with it the coldest air of the season so far," Weather.com reported.

Give your home the once over with a professional or do-it-yourself home energy audit to determine if your home makes the grade for energy conversation for the winter. A professional audit will include a check of your furnace and ductwork and determine if maintenance and cleaning are needed. The cleaner and more efficient they are, the more you'll enjoy energy savings.

Then, consider these cost-effective approaches to conservation as the weather cools:

• Insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to help cut heating and cooling costs and make your home more comfortable. If you have less than 12 inches of attic insulation, add another layer, especially if your home was built before 1980. Also add insulation to crawl spaces, under floors, against basement walls and the wall from your attached garage to your home.

• Use a humidifier. The additional moisture will increase the heat index inside your home making 68 degrees Fahrenheit feel like 76 degrees. Place a portable unit in frequently used areas such as the bedroom or living room. The relative humidity in your home should be between 20 to 40 percent.

• Let the sun and its warmth shine in. Raise the blinds and open the shades on south- and west-facing windows to fill your home with warmth during the day.

• Replace single-pane windows with double- or triple-paned windows with coating on the glass that reflects heat back into the room. Put in better doors. If window replacement is too expensive, put your storm windows on for the winter and install clear plastic film across the inside of your windows and frames. Heat the plastic with a blow dryer until it becomes nearly invisible. The trapped pocket of air between the plastic film and the window acts as an effective insulator -- which can help reduce heat loss through the window by 25 to 50 percent.

• Using caulk, sealants and weather-stripping, plug the drafts throughout your home, inside and out, around windows, doors and where systems protrude through the skin of the home.

• Seal the air ducts to close small cracks or holes, using duct tape. If you buy new ducts, consider a system that's already surrounded by insulation. Likewise insulate your water heater and plumbing pipes.

• Change furnace filters frequently and clean air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as needed. Change forced air heating system filters monthly or use washable filters.

• Check the manufacturer's instructions and if they allow it, close heating vents to guest rooms and other unused areas.

• Seal any cracks around your air conditioner and cover it when not in use. Air travels through your window air conditioning unit. If possible, during the winter months, remove your air conditioner from the window altogether.

• Install and use a programmable thermostat set at 68 degrees when you are home and awake and at 58 degrees when you are away or asleep.

Check out the Energy Star Home Interactive Toolfor an animated room-by-room analysis of where you can save energy in your home any time of year.

Published: October 13, 2006

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A journalist for 35-years, Broderick Perkins parlayed an old-school daily newspaper career into a digital news service offering editorial content and consulting services. Perkins' San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group includes the flagship news site, DeadlineNews.Com, offering real estate, personal finance and consumer journalism, and a backshop, the Deadline Newsroom.