Yesterday's Halloween post was kind of depressing. Today I want to be more positive and show how a home's energy footprint can be reduced when a higher standard is used for insulation.

Click on this link and you will see a spider chart showing the reduced energy footprint that is possible with a well-insulated home. The smaller footprint (shown in yellow) represents a home built to the standards of the U.S. Energy Policy Act, compared to the same home built to code.

The EPAct home will generate 43 percent fewer CO2 emissions, using the equivalent of about nine barrels of oil less a year, and saving on average as much as $700 less in energy bills*. That's a difference in energy use that helps the environment and also helps save money.

Which footprint do you want for your new home? Tread lightly, friends, and leave a better world behind.

For information about how to save money and help the planet by upgrading the insulation in your home, go to the Owens Corning micro-site, www.insulateyouratticnow.com.

*Owens Corning engineering estimates based on average house and average climate