Did you know that you might be throwing money away every time you turn up the thermostat?

It's a little-known secret that most of the $1,300 the average family spends on home utility bills every year is actually squandered because of wasteful, inefficient energy uses in the home.

“Making just a few, inexpensive modifications can save homeowners up to 50 percent on energy bills, make the home more comfortable, and help the environment at the same time,” says Richard Roll, president of American Homeowners Association

Take a detailed look at where your home could be wasting energy, and then take steps to improve your home's energy efficiency.

Adding insulation is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to reduce your energy costs. You can increase the comfort of your home while reducing heating and cooling needs by up to 30 percent, just by investing a few hundred dollars.

You probably need better insulation if your home is older and you haven't added insulation — only 20 percent of homes built before 1980 were well insulated — or you've built an addition, installed new siding or roofing.

Insulation is measured in R values — the higher the R value, the better your walls and roofs will resist transfer of heat. Insulation products come in four types: batts, rolls, loose-fill and rigid foam boards. Be sure to get the right type for the specific space to be insulated. Compare R values and costs.

The U.S. Department of Energy booklet “Energy Savers” has a chart recommending certain R values in addition to many other useful tips. For a free copy of the booklet, phone (800)363-3732.

Try to prevent warm air from leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home in winter. Reducing these air leaks can save you 10 percent or more on your energy bills. It's quick and easy to caulk, seal and weather-strip seams, cracks and openings to the outside.

Heating and Cooling Tips

Remember to:

Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in winter and as high as possible in summer.

Clean or replace furnace or A/C filters once a month.

Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators — make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.

Turn off kitchen, bath or other ventilating fans as soon as they have done the job. One fan can pull out a houseful of air in one hour.

Select energy-efficient equipment when you buy a new furnace or air conditioner.

For information on any aspect of home ownership, go to http://www.ahahome.com, the web site for American Homeowners Association.