If you're already struggling with the utility bills and you're dreading the increases on the way, Consumer Champ Bill Clarke has some great news to help you lower gas and electric bills.

Lindsey Chapman from Home Depot has an SUV full of goodies.

"Bill, we've never seen a house we couldn't make more energy efficient," Chapman said.

She has a load of energy saving "quick fixes" that work in just about any home.

We'll start in the basement, with clean air filters for the furnace.

"The cleaner your filters are, the easier the heat can get through so you have more heat efficiency," Chapman said.

Next, think about insulation for the water heater.

"When winter rolls around, you put an extra blanket on your bed. You need to do the same for your water heater," said Chapman. "Because we are in a colder basement, it loses heat faster. It takes 10 minutes to tape it on, and you can take it off in the summertime."

Lindsey also brought some help for the hot water pipes.

"These guys, you could cut and slip 'em on your pipes to help insulate them," she said.

On the label of nearly every insulation product, you'll find an "R" rating. The higher the rating, the more insulation you're getting.

Turning down the thermostat always help lower the heating bill. But Chapman had something else to help.

"The new generation of thermostats let you program day-by-day," she said. "That's even better."

Why the big deal over digital thermostats? Because for every one degree you can turn down the thermostat, you can save as much as 3 percent on your home heating costs. Of course, you could also buy a new, more fuel efficient furnace, but a digital thermostat is a great start.

For more energy tips, visit the Home Depot Web site.

And if you're wondering if maybe this is a good time to replace your fussy old furnace, we found a tremendous calculator at The New York Times.