The consumer tax credits for energy-efficiency home improvements have been revived with a few tweaks for the calendar year 2009. To be eligible, most qualifying products must be purchased and installed between January 1 and December 31, 2009. There also are some new eligible products. Buy taking steps to weatherize your home, you can make keeping your home a comfortable temperature easier and cheaper.

Set the furnace thermostat at 68 degrees or lower, and the air-conditioner thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, 3 percent to 5 percent more energy is used for each degree the furnace is set above 68 degrees and for each degree the air conditioner is set below 78 degrees.

Replace your most frequently used incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights.

Replace and recycle your old refrigerator and purchase energy-efficient models. Units only 10 years old can use twice as much electricity as a new ENERGY STAR® labeled model.

Caulk windows, doors and anywhere air leaks in or out. Do not caulk around water heater and furnace exhaust pipes.

Weatherstrip around windows and doors.

Wrap heating and cooling ducts with duct wrap, or use mastic sealant.

Have the chimney cleaned and inspected regularly.

Install energy-saver shower heads.

Defrost your Freezer

Do your consumer research on the Internet and buy as many things as you can on-line. You'll save time and the small shipping fees are much less than what you'd spend driving around.

When buying new appliances, be sure to purchase energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® labeled models.