Do-It-Yourself: Design, renovate, find a contractor or D-I-Y.

Home Depot - check out the on-line 'Know How' center or visit your local store for clinics (they have kids clinics, too!).

Lowes also offers on-line 'How To' guidance for homeowners, including some suggestions for energy conservation:

Here's what they recommend:

Attic/crawlspace -- As a general rule, if a home has less than 11 to 12 inches of insulation in the attic or crawlspace, it could probably use more. Use batt or blown insulation for best results. Check with a Lowe's expert to determine the proper R-value of insulation for your home.

Water heater and hot water pipes -- Conserve heat and energy by swaddling your water heater with an insulation blanket kit or faced fiberglass insulation. Insulate hot water pipes with preformed foam pipe insulation sleeves if they pass through an unheated area or run under your home.

Windows -- Remove screens and install storm windows.

Fireplace -- Make sure the damper closes as tightly as possible when a fire is not burning to minimize heat loss (unless you have gas starter/appliance).

Draft-prone areas -- Zip up your home's winter coat by caulking, sealing and weatherstripping around all seams, cracks and openings. Pay special attention around windows and where siding or bricks and wood trim meet. Seal areas near electrical boxes and plumbing penetrations as well.

Ductwork -- Look for cracks or air leaks in ductwork and use duct tape to seal them.

Furnace filters -- Change forced air heating system air filters monthly. Make a clean break into winter with a fresh filter instead of using last year's used goods.

Air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators -- Regularly dusting off these heat sources will improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Ceiling fans -- To save energy during colder weather, activate the reverse setting on your ceiling fans to circulate hot air that rises to the ceiling and blow it back down.