When the cold north winds begin to blow this winter, you will want to be sure your home is as energy efficient as possible.

Warm air leaking out of your home during winter months can waste a large portion of your energy dollars. But a well-insulated and weatherized home can reduce your heating costs by up to 30 per cent.

Checking your home’s insulation system is the first step toward overall energy efficiency. First check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area. Insulation is measured in R-value -the higher the R-value, the better your walls and roof will resist heat loss.

The easiest and most cost-effective way to insulate your home is to add insulation in the attic. To find out if you have enough attic insulation, measure the thickness of insulation. …