NEW YORK -- The Energy Department's announcement that fuel prices are expected to rise this winter has some consumers scrambling to find ways to cut home heating costs.

The biggest increase -- as much as 45 percent -- is forecast for areas that rely on heating oil, where prices are rising because of tighter supplies, the department said earlier this month. Prices for natural gas and propane might also go up if this winter is colder than last year, it said.

As a result, a family that stays warm with heating oil likely faces a winter bill of $934, up from $643 last year. Natural gas users could find themselves paying $710 this winter, up from $596 last year. And propane users face a winter heating bill of $1,082, up from $887 last year.

Experts say consumers can take a variety of steps to keep their heating bills in check -- some of which don't cost anything.

"The easiest way is to use less energy," said Tom Farkas, manager of residential programs for the Edison Electric Institute, a Washington-based association of utility companies. Just turning the thermostat down a few degrees and putting on a sweater and warm socks can shave fuel usage, he said.

"The other solution is to try to improve the performance of your home or apartment by making it more energy-efficient," Farkas added. Here, expenditures can range from a couple of dollars to buy tape to seal the cracks around windows to several thousand dollars for a more fuel-efficient furnace.

When it comes to fuel oil, some suppliers will let consumers sign fixed-price contracts in the fall that lock in a set price per gallon. That protects consumers when market prices rise, but costs them if they decline.

Collective buying

In some communities, families are banding together to form fuel-buying collectives that seek discount purchases.

One collective, the PIRG Fuel Buyers, contracts with suppliers on behalf of 1,100 members in the Philadelphia area.

Emily Schiller, director of the program, which is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group, said members can save 10 cents to 20 cents a gallon on fuel oil by buying through the group's suppliers -- saving between $100 and $200 on their winter heating bills.

"A lot of our members are elderly and low income," Schiller said. "These are the ones struggling most with energy bills, and every little bit helps."

Mark Hopkins, vice president of the Alliance to Save Energy, an environmentally conscious coalition in Washington, D.C., suggests consumer tackle energy-saving in stages:

First, tighten up the house.

"Many homes have storm windows," Hopkins pointed out. "Get them down and seated in place. A lot of people don't do that."

Don't forget to weather-strip doors and windows, and keep the damper closed on a fireplace when it's not in use, he added.

Second, consider projects that require some investment.

For about $100, consumers can buy dual setback thermostats, which will lower the temperature in a house or apartment while they're away at work or sleeping at night.

"You can get a 10 to 15 percent savings right there," Hopkins said. He pointed out that every degree a homeowner lowers a thermostat saves about 3 percent on a heating bill.

A new furnace -- a big investment at $3,000 to $4,000 -- can pay for itself over time in fuel savings, Hopkins said.

An older furnace typically converts about 60 percent to 70 percent of its fuel into heat for the home, with the rest lost up the flue.

"Today's systems are 80 to 95 percent efficient, capturing that heat that used to go up your stack," Hopkins said. That translates to a 30 percent savings on fuel bills, he noted.

Farkas of the Edison Electric Institute pointed out that many utility companies will help consumers calculate the potential savings from buying new products. Or they might have programs to provide technical or financial assistance.

Many also offer online energy audit programs, mainly for their own customers or for consumers in their service areas. Among sites to try: www. alliantenergy.com in the Midwest.

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On the Net

www.eia.doe.gov

www.eei.org

www.pirg.org/fuelbuyers

www.ase.org