Possibly one of the largest cost in your home is energy consumption. Searching out parts of your home that energy is being wasted and repairing can reduce your annual energy bills by up to 25% or more which for the average household in the country could be more than $500. You can find drafts by lighting a candle or incense anywhere drafts could sneak in. Then just watch the smokes movement. Use this procedure around windows, doors, range hoods, plumbing and ceiling fixtures, attic doors. Make note of what needs caulk, sealant, weather stripping, or insulation and fix accordingly. Check the thickness of insulation in the attic between the ceiling joists. If your insulation covers the joist completely, your ceiling has adequate insulation. However if your ceiling joist are visible by multiple inches, you most likely need further insulation. Observe this area well as this area of your home insulates the most.You also should examine for stains on your insulation. This usually signifies a crack on the other side of the insulation. Examine the problem and repair gaps with caulk or spray foam insulation.Your wall insulation can be inspected by removing the electrical and cable outlets in your home and either probing with a ruler or non metallic object or viewing with a flashlight. Be sure to turn off the electricity to outlet prior examining. Look to see if insulation is present or if it has settled. Look for obvious cracks in your duct work and determine whether the joints are sealed. Additionally if your duct work is not insulated or is poorly insulated, you may want to think about insulating them as nearly 10%- 25% of energy consumption to heat or cool your home. Also check any gaps in your homes exterior such as dryer ducts, plumping lines going through a wall or floor, or any cables. Make sure everything is sealed with caulk or spray foam. If you are buying a new home you may want to access your future energy consumption as well.