...dirt, dust and pet fur, it makes a furnace or air conditioner work harder. And harder working equipment means higher energy bills. 4) LIGHTING: The twisty compact fluorescent light bulbs called CFLs are definitely more expensive, starting...

...and natural gas supplies, pushing up already rising fuel prices. With drivers and homeowners complaining about higher energy bills, state lawmakers and Gov. Sonny Perdue began focusing on the issue as a long-term problem. Mr. Perdue named...

...people grapple with their holiday bills, she said. More people seem to be in trouble this year, she added, because high energy bills have squeezed their budgets more than usual. An important first step in dealing with credit card debt is to take...

...services will increase by $10.30 a month starting next year. And retirees and all Americans will be facing sharply higher energy bills this winter. The government is estimating that the average household will pay 48 percent more this year to heat...

...causing the blower motor to work harder to circulate the air. The math is simple. The motor uses more energy (higher energy bill) and the cooling or heating delivered by the system is less because it's clogged. Thus, greater cost and reduced...

...campaign. Companies, keeping a close eye on profit margins, are still showing caution in hiring as they cope with high energy bills and soaring health-care costs for workers, economists said. "The economy is recovering, but it is still difficult...

...lines and orifices. This time of year is our last chance to paint and caulk exterior windows and doors to reduce high energy bills. Paint won't cure when it's too cold outside. And nothing (paint or caulk) sticks to a wet surface. This...

...are scrambling on emergencies. Insulation is another crucial weapon in battling house leaks and the subsequent higher energy bills. Experts estimate that more than 60 percent of American homes are underinsulated, based on current residential...

...big 4.7 percent rise reported for January, there is little doubt that consumers continue to feel the sting of higher energy bills. Gasoline prices increased by 2.5 percent, natural gas prices were up by 2.2 percent, fuel oil prices rose...

...home's energy efficiency. The environmental protection agency Web site addresses, from window condensation to high energy bills. www.epa.gov/hhiptool/ HOPPER CONTROL Get rid of grasshoppers the organic way. For small infestations...