Experts predict heating fuel will be costlier this winter thanks to hurricanes Katrina's and Rita's disruption of oil and natural gas production, oil refining, natural gas processing and pipeline systems.

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If there is any doubt about whether back-to-back hurricanes will have an effect on fuel costs, look no further than the federal government. The predictions are chilling.

The Energy Information Administration Web site, maintained by the U.S. government, predicts, on average, a household primarily using heating oil will spend about $378, or 32 percent more this winter. Those heating primarily with natural gas can expect to spend about $350, or 48 percent more. Those heating primarily with propane can expect to spend on average $325, or 30 percent more. Households heating with electricity are predicted to fare far better, spending on average of $38, or 5 percent more.

According to the Web site, www.eia.doe.gov, about 55 percent of households rely on natural gas for heating, 29 percent on electricity, 7 percent on heating oil and 4 percent on propane.

Not to worry, however. There are ways to make your home more energy efficient and reduce heating costs. Pennsylvania has even designed a new Web site called www.StayWarmPA.com. There's also www.energysavers.gov, a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Energy, Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency.

If energy efficiency is the name of the game, then conservation is the rule of play and is the most important thing households can do, according to Ana Gomez, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection. People do not realize how important it is to conserve energy in order to save money, Ms. Gomez said.

Many tips are common sense in nature. If leaving a room for an hour or more, turn off lights and appliances for two reasons: it saves energy -- about $40 a year -- and reduces pollution.

Forty dollars may not seem like much but when tacked onto other money-saving measures, it can add up to a lot. Following are more tips for making a home more energy efficient.

Seal leaks around windows and doors to prevent warm air from escaping through cracks.

Keep the thermostat between 66 and 68 in the winter and 76 and 78 in the summer. By lowering the winter temperature, one can save about $29 a year.

If you live in a three-bedroom house, close vents in the room or rooms not being used. By doing so, as much as $100 a year can be saved.

If renovating a home and you can afford to, invest in good insulation in the basement and attic. A poorly insulated home loses heat in the winter and cool air in the summer. By insulating the attic, one can save about $300 a year and in the basement about $160 a year.

Investing in a programmable thermostat can add up to a $100 a year savings. Lowering the winter temperature to 55 degrees while one is at work or away from home helps save energy.

By replacing 20 percent of incandescent light bulbs with slightly more expensive fluorescent ones, a resident can save about 50 percent. Fluorescent bulbs last longer and don't use as much energy.

Using insulated curtains, can result in a savings of about $28 a year.

Cleaning the dryer filter after each use can save about $66 a year.

Taking showers instead of baths can save approximately $28 a year.

For those still feeling the pinch of high utility bills, contact the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program at www.dpw.state.pa.us and type LIHEAP in the subject search box, or call the state Department of Public Welfare at 800-692-7462.

While the government offers tips for shaving dollars off energy bills, Glenn and Gloria Choate, of Nottingham for years have turned to a sure-fire way to warm up their house while keeping costs at bay: a wood burning stove.

"When the furnace kicks on, I see dollar signs," Mrs. Choate said recently.

To keep the furnace from kicking on so frequently, the Choates turned to a wood stove about 25 years ago when the price of heating oil started to skyrocket. Although they originally used oil, the couple switched to kerosene when the weather got so cold one day that the oil congealed in their outdoor tank.

Showing a bill dated Dec. 27, 2004, Mrs. Choate said it reflected a cost of $1.97 a gallon or a total of $391 to fill their tank. In 2003, the price was $1.28 a gallon or $239.43 to fill the tank. The current price is $2.58 a gallon or a total of $513 this winter.

Since they bought the wood-burning stove, located in the basement, the Choates have decreased the number of times they filled their tank from four or five times a season to 1¹/₂ times. The only downside to the wood stove is that the stove and the chimney must be cleaned yearly.

To better circulate warm air throughout their home, Mr. Choate connected to duct work two small fans above the wood stove. One day last week, the Choates awoke to 66 degrees. After throwing a log or two onto the fire, by 11:45 a.m. the temperature had risen to a comfortable 70 degrees. A couple of well-seasoned oak logs will burn four to six hours, Mrs. Choate said.

Besides warming their 2,770- square-foot house, the Choates' wood-burning stove also can be used for cooking. That came in handy one January morning when they awoke to a downed power line. Mrs. Choate cooked breakfast on the stove instead.

Extolling the virtues of wood over oil, Mrs. Choate said oil heat is spread by using forced air while wood burning is radiant heat.

The only issue is finding wood to feed the fire. It appears not to be a problem for Mr. Choate, however, who often is getting a call about trees that need to be cut.

Last week, the couple's yard was well-stocked with six cords of wood stacked in neat rows near the house. More wood was being seasoned in a shed.

Wood should be seasoned at least a year, Mr. Choate said. People don't realize they lose 50 percent of the burning capacity when using green wood. He's well-prepared for this winter with 1¹/₂ to two years of seasoned wood ready for the burning.