>Typically, 45% of your utility bill goes for heating and cooling.

>Appliances count for another 20% and 13% for the water heater.
>
>The CFL idea is a good one, but I think people are being somewhat misled so far as it really making a dent in global warming.

We're talking about huge numbers here - and if that 11% is reduced by half, that's about 5% of the total, which isn't insignificant in the total.

Of course, investment in insulation would pay much faster - and I'm actually glad how we're doing here. The other day when temperatures went from 70s down to low 40s (with some 30s overnight), it took the heating a whole day to kick in. I'd actually like the house to hold out much longer, but can't expect much with these cardboard walls. At least we have this half-brick sheathing on the outside. I just wish we had a better insulated attic... which I may eventually redo myself.