Q: I moved from California to Edmonton, Alberta. How do I get the biggest green bang for my buck in a 1950s bungalow? Changes like improving insulation don't seem to do enough to reduce energy use and carbon emissions.

—Leland in Edmonton, Canada

A: First, don't dismiss insulation. Heat, such as it is during Canadian and northern U.S. winters, always rises. If your attic isn't properly sealed and insulated, a lot can escape. And, thanks to those pesky laws of thermodynamics, basements and crawl spaces can sap up to 20 percent of a house's heat—even more than attics. Insulation and sealing material is relatively cheap and often can be installed by any modestly capable home handyperson. Natural Resources Canada has a wonderful publication titled Keeping the Heat In, with comprehensive how-to instructions on upgrading insulation. 

Try to envision your house as a big machine, and then operate it efficiently by doing everything from setting the temperature lower at night to turning out the lights when you leave. Cut your energy use and you just might save enough money for more costly measures like a whole new heating system. I know this from experience: Even before going solar, our family was spending $800 a year less on electricity than the average U.S. household.

For how to slash operating costs for little or nothing, check out the website for Energy Efficient Alberta. Other good sources are the U.S. EPA, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, and the American Gas Association.