When your home -- or the cost of heating it -- gets uncomfortable, there is a lot you can do to control how much energy you need to use to stay warm. In general, the best wintertime energy-saving investments for affordable comfort in a southern climate are:

Stop Air Leaks: On a cold day, turn on all your exhaust fans and look (or feel) for all the air leaks everywhere  materials are joined or penetrated. Outlet gaskets, expanding foam sealants, good weatherstripping, door thresholds and caulking interior gaps are inexpensive, do-it-yourself solutions to reduce cold-air infiltration. Don’t forget attention to air leakage around a chimney, exhaust dampers, ceiling fixtures, plumbing and tubs, floors and even interior walls, soffits or other hidden bypasses with air leaks to the attic. If you have recessed can lights in insulated ceilings, consider replacing or getting kits to make them airtight.

Seal the Duct System: If your home is typical, your ductwork may be losing 30% of the heating you pay for! That’s because most ducts are very leaky sooner or later. The entire duct system should be sealed with mastic and mesh (not duct tape), tested by a trained professional with specialized equipment and insulated (if in an unconditioned attic) with R-8 or higher.

Maintain Your Heater: Professional servicing and faithful filter changing will make sure your heater is operating as efficiently as it can.

Insulate the Water Heater & Pipes: It’s easy and inexpensive to install foam tube pipe insulation and water heater insulation kits. Follow safety instructions carefully for gas water heaters.

Use a Set-back Thermostat: Don’t waste your money heating an empty home! A programmable thermostat makes it more comfortable to save energy when not home and have a cozy home by the time you return.

Increase Attic Insulation: If space permits, increase attic insulation to R-38. Be sure you don’t block the flow of air from soffit vents under the overhangs.

Buy EnergyStar: When replacing your heater, appliances, windows, doors, lighting or electronics, look for the EnergyStar label. That’s an easy way to identify what will really save you money on your utility bills. Also, compare EnergyGuide labels to compare the hidden cost of your new appliance (its operating cost).

Insulate Voids:  If you have single-pane windows and wood doors, consider temporary or permanent storm windows and doors or replace with EnergyStar insulated units as your next investment after doing all of the above improvements.  If you have no insulation in walls, dense-pack blown-in insulation or specialized low-expansion foams for retrofit can be a good investment for winter savings and comfort.

Online Home Improvement Advisor: For both energy product information and energy improvement ideas tailored to your house and climate, visit the www.energystar.gov  Web site. You can get your Home Energy Yardstick score to see if your energy use at home is above average. You can also get a list of recommended improvements and estimated savings from the Energy Star Home Advisor.