Heating is a huge expense for many households.    It also accounts for about 45 percent of the energy used in a home.  That's why many people are looking to Mother Nature for help.
    
Dave Fulmer, who built a green house says, "There are so many things that are free.  The wind, the sun and geothermal, so I said 'It would just be great to combine all that.'"
    
So he did.  Fulmer built a home that's powered by the sun, the wind and the earth.
    
"There are no fossil fuels in it.  No wood, no propane, no coal, no gas, because I'm going to make my own electricity to heat and cool the house and maintain the house." says Fulmer.
    
Just by eliminating drafts, many people can reduce their energy use by up to 30 percent.  It's also important to make sure your insulation levels are up to today's standards.  

Regularly inspecting your furnace is also a good idea.  Of course, there are big-time projects that can have even more impact.  Bill Vanhee has been selling geothermal heating systems for thirty years.  

He says, "The last two years we have seen a huge increase in interest.  We've gone from 12-15 units a year to we're probably going to be doing 35-40 units a year."  

Homeowner Alan Sleeman says it's good for the environment and his wallet.
    
"I found that even though it costs more initially, it would pay back in about five years time." says Sleeman.

The bottom line on heating is this:  you can think as big or little as you like, but any action is better than none at all.  Converting one million homes to geo-exchange instead of oil or natural gas heating systems would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nine billion pounds.