Matt Lamb says the energy savings in an average home could easily improve 15 percent to 25 percent. Lamb, says, "It wouldn't take a lot of sweat equity on the part of the homeowner to get those savings."

While icy blasts of winter are largely past, memories of staggering energy bills are warm in the minds of many homeowners. Lamb, a manufacturing vice president for Pacesetter Corporation, an affiliate of The Home Service Store, suggests now is the time to go on the offensive to correct energy deficiencies. The trouble is homeowners tend to overlook subtle sources of energy loss that, in total, amount to big-time energy inefficiency.

Pacesetter pressurizes home interiors to check for telltale leaks. Results uncover the usual suspects: drafty windows and doors along with minuscule exterior cracks that allow air to stream in and out.

"I see small one-eighth-inch gaps around a door jamb or window and it may not seem like much but when you multiply it by the length of the crack, that's a lot of space and a lot of energy loss," says Lamb. Any cracks should have homeowners reaching for their caulk guns, one of the fastest, easiest home maintenance tasks.

Some cracks aren't so small. Pressure tests showed one of the largest sources of energy loss was at the juncture of outside walls and foundation. Those spaces, too, are targets for caulk.

Replacement windows are the new stars among energy-savers. Fiberglass has just debuted in window frames. The advantage with fiberglass is that it won't expand or contract. This improves the seal when installed and reduces cracking. Window installation is a chance to steal even more energy savings. Homeowners should ask installers to fully insulate crevices around the window before the window is fitted.

You can compare the energy efficiency of replacement windows before you buy. There are three measures worth paying attention to.

The first is an NFRC number. This shows a U-value. It's akin to the R-value assigned to insulation. The smaller the U-number, the better. Also shown is a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). This reveals how much solar energy will come through the window. If you live in sunny southern climates, a smaller number is better. Northerners may want warm solar heating rays from windows with larger SHGC numbers.

The final window energy measurement is a visible light transmission (VT) number. This equates to the amount of light allowed through the glass. Again, the smaller the number, the better.

There's an added plus to efficient windows. Lamb says some windows are Energy Star rated. This rating is reserved for the most energy-efficient of products. The rating may earn rebates from utility companies.

For those who covet lots of attic insulation, Lamb offers some final advice.

"One of the worst things you can do when you add attic insulation is cover the vents. This traps moisture, and insulation does a far better job when it is dry than when it is damp."