Dupont introduced a new insulating material that reflects heat in the summer and insulates in the winter. DuPont Tyvek ThermaWrap is breathable aluminum housewrap that prevents condensation and lasts for the lifetime of the building, according to Dupont.

Dupont is rolling out a line of sustainability-oriented products that it expects will add $2 billion per year in revenue. Obviously they believe that new construction is interested in paying extra for energy efficiency. The company's press release says its energy efficient products will cut CO2 emissions by 40 million tons (no idea over how many years).

Hopefully builders will quickly offer materials like this as standard options to commercial and residential buyers. Considering that the extra cost can be added to the mortgage and reduce the tax liability, investing in energy efficiency building materials is a no-brainer.

The EPA has published 4 tips that can save homeowners up to 20 percent on their heating bills this winter.

To me the best of these ideas is buying a programmable thermostat to automatically lower the temperature when you're not at home or asleep and warming the house back up when you need it. This can lower bills by as much as $150 per year, and probably more if you live in Buffalo or Ann Arbor.

Even though natural gas prices are down a bit from last year's record highs, the savings won't be much as gas companies charge consumers based on what they paid for their current stock, according to the Northwest Indiana Times.

Office buildings probably stand to save the most as they are unoccupied for 12 or more hours per day, and often all weekend.

Cleaning your heating equipment, though a pain to schedule, can save you as well.