Consumers in North America are preparing for higher energy bills this winter season due to recent spikes in costs for heating oil, electricity, natural gas, and gasoline. Energy conservation starts with home design and construction and requires making energy-efficient habits part of everyday life. Homeowners can reduce their heating bills by 50% or more through proper insulation, windows, doors, and following energy-saving techniques on a daily, monthly, and annual basis. Taking a systems approach to managing energy use ensures maximizing savings through balancing energy intake, losses, and using solar heating effectively depending on climate.