On the eve of this week's U.S. holiday, my blog sponsor Owens Corning and the U.S. Department of Energy called for a new kind of Independence Day - one that helps reduce the need for imported oil. A news release issued Tuesday spread the word about simple, energy-efficient home improvements that can help homeowners save money and strike oil in the attic - 103 million barrels annually, to be precise. Gale Tedhams, director of sustainability for Owens Corning, says about 60 million homes in the U.S. are under-insulated. By adding insulation, homeowners can make their homes greener, save money and conserve the energy equivalent of 51 supertankers filled with oil. In addition to helping homeowners save energy and reduce their cooling and heating costs, insulation plays a key role in saving the planet. According to a recent study by the McKinsey Global Institute, insulation is the single most cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For more about how to declare your energy independence, check out the news release at the Owens Corning Web site.