With multiple winter storms already having covered southeastern Virginia in white, residents are reminded there is still a lot of cold weather ahead.

Unfortunately, the increased chill typically translates into higher energy bills for a lot of homeowners–or just as bad–an uncomfortable home, with drafts and cold spots robbing the house of precious heat. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The Next Step Program, an initiative of the Green Jobs Alliance, reminds residents that it’s not too late to winterize their homes. In fact, there are a number of small, inexpensive steps everyone can take to reduce home energy consumption–which will lower utility bills and improve comfort.

Weatherstripping: One of the single best things you can do to reduce the amount of cold weather sneaking in and hot conditioned air escaping is to install weatherstripping around windows and doors. Weatherstrips are plastic, foam or rubber strips with an adhesive backing that fill in the gaps around windows and door frames. Average cost per window or door is usually a mere $5.

Seal Outlets: Most people never think about the air lost around light switches and outlets, but these numerous points along your walls are a big source of unwanted air transfer. Install draft blockers—foam plates—that fit behind the plates on switches and electrical outlets to block most of the air lost through these areas. A packet of 10 runs only around $3, and with a little caulk and a screwdriver, anybody can install them.

Little air filters make a big difference. (Pic | howstuffworks.com)

Caulk It: An inexpensive tube of caulk is great for filling small spaces or gaps around windows and where pipes and wires enter the home. A single tube of caulk can be had for $4 or less.

Replace Air Filters: A dirty filter restricts airflow and increases energy demand on your HVAC system. Most filters should be replaced once a month, or you can buy a permanent filter. Permanent filters actually trap as much as twice the amount of dust and dirt in the air, but will also cost more up front.

Cover Water Heaters: Many conventional water heaters are set at around 140 degrees by installers and repairmen, yet most homes don’t need it set that high. In the end, they wind up costing more to heat the water. Turning the temperature down 20 degrees can decrease water heating costs by as much as 10 percent. Even better, cover it with an insulating jacket, particularly if your water heater is set in a garage or other unheated area. This will greatly reduce the energy it takes to keep water hot inside the tank.

Back That Fan Up: While fans are most often associated with warm weather, by running your ceiling fans in reverse (many models come with that ability), the fan actually pulls the warmer air that has collected near the ceiling back into circulation around the room. This simple action can cut your heating costs as much as 10 percent.

Cover Windows: Buying a window insulation kit adds another layer of protection around old windows, and properly installed, is nearly invisible from the road. Better yet, you can even install thin, plastic sheets of reflective window film on your window panes and glass doors. This film actually reflects the heat back inside your home. You can also get a pro to install low-e film to your windows as well.

Insulate. (Pic | mark-lawton.com)

Install a Storm Door: If your front and back doors lack a storm door, get one. Storm doors provide another excellent barrier against drafts entering around the edges of the primary door, a major culprit in heat loss. The installation of a storm door can increase energy efficiency in your home by a whopping 45 percent.

Insulate: Have you checked to see how well your home is insulated, particularly in your attic and crawl spaces? Maintaining a well-insulated home can be the single biggest factor in keeping conditioned air inside and unwanted air out. Ideally, in the attic, you want insulation rated at R-38 or at least a foot thick of insulation. External walls should have R-13 and subflooring should have R-19. To make sure your external walls are insulated, remove the plate on a light switch or outlet and check around the edge of the box to see if insulation is present. While insulating, be sure to cover pipes beneath the home with insulating foam. This will help maintain more even temperatures for hot water traveling through the pipes and may even keep them from freezing during extremely harsh weather.

Seal Ducts: The ductwork that transports hot or cold air from our HVAC system into our home often leaks air. Some studies show as much as 10 to 30 percent of conditioned air escapes before it ever reaches the areas it is supposed to. Having your system tested by a professional is the best way to determine where leaks exist and how to fix them.

Want help winterizing your home? The Green Jobs Alliance, a non-profit organization tasked with creating jobs and promoting energy efficiency in HR, has “Next Step” grant money dedicated toward retrofitting 100 homes in Hampton Roads by the end of May. The grant pays 100% of the cost of the Energy Audit and 25% of home energy improvements for the homeowner.

“Maintaining your family’s comfort and reducing the cost of your energy bills does not have to be difficult or expensive to do,” says Leslie Holthoff, Consumer Energy Advocate for the Next Step Program. “Oftentimes, for what amounts to pennies on the dollar, a person can ultimately save thousands over the life of their home.”

For more information on the Next Step program, contact Leslie at lholthoff@greenjobsalliance.org.