There are many solar designs on the Internet and in books, which utilize a goodly thickness of stucco, which is in a direct line from sunshine. The stucco heats up in daytime and holds the heat well into the night.

Windows, which are double and triple paned also, trap heat inside in the summer and cold inside in the winter. The extra precaution of caulking around doors and windows will keep the home more comfortable.

There are fixtures like oval designed toilet bowls that use about 1/3 less water, designed for homes up on top of mountains and hills where water is scarce.

There are a number of roofing types from asbestos shingles to wood shake to metal to ceramic tiles. Beneath these tiles, the insulation can be rolled; can be blown in or in sheets. Between the studs is spacing for insulation in the slope of the roof. In the floor of the attic up to 8 inches of drywall can be blown in. The insulation comes in `R factors'. Many builders put R19 in exterior walls. R 41 is about the highest, and a log home that has been treated well and sealed securely, should be R41. The flooring between main and basement might be R factor lower than the walls.

Many contractors have put a fireplace or wood stove in the basement because the heat raises and keeps floors warmer. The natural gas log in the fireplace will do the same job with cleaner walls and ceilings.

The basement window well coverings are almost clear, and work to keep snow away from the foundation and in the cold, heat is trapped in the window well.

Storm doors assist in insulating the home. A felt insulating strip around the doorframe also helps keep the home warm, keeping drafts out.

In the supper, an exhaust fan in the attic can draw out the heat that has risen during a hot day.

The heater vents also can be improved by making sure there are no cracks in the seams, which can leak heat.

Some of the old timers believed closing curtains during hot summer days, keeps heat out, and opening windows and letting the cool night air helps bring home temperatures down without running an air conditioner.

The cost of landscaping can be many hundreds of dollars. A good-sized tree can begin at $500 in a nursery, and the owners can put most trees, plants and shrubs in the yard. The yard can be tilled and leveled and raked by the owners. Local landscaping companies will deliver sod for the owner to get laid down.

Sprinklers and fencing may be easier for professional companies to install but many homeowners are doing these jobs also.

Some appliances like front-loading washing machines use less hot water. An extractor will take out much of the water, requiring a lower drying time.

Ceiling fans can help with cooling and heating. Using the new light bulbs will last longer and cost less to run.

Water filters can help fight the lime build-ups on fixtures so they last longer. Also treated water enables you to use less soap in tub, shower and washing machine. Clothes last longer because less soap is needed. Less soap means lower laundry costs.