It may seem as though the cost of just about everything is rising, but some things still come for free.

An energy audit is one complimentary service that can actually help you save some cash, as meteorologist Shannon Murphy reports in "Your Green Life."

"In this economy, anything you can do to help save here and there is huge."

Many people know that switching to fluorescent light bulbs, and turning down your thermostat at night, will help you stretch your dollar.

But what many Minnesota Power customers don't realize is that they are missing out on a free program that has been offered for over twenty five years.

It's a home energy audit which educates homeowner on how to reduce those escalating utility bills.

"We try to give people hopefully some good practical council on what is cost effective and in what order to do things."

Homeowner John Reich received a customized list of available rebates as well as tips on how to optimize his energy usage.

"It's definitely a great service and hopefully it will help other people in the area too because it's been a tough winter."

But, if you think that your home needs more to reduce your bills, there is another option if you are willing to spend a couple hundred bucks.

It's called a blower door test, which measures the air leakage rate within your home.

"Often times you'll find probably the two biggest leakage points would be the rim-joyced area where the house sits on top of the foundation."

"Another area where you see a lot of leakage is up through the ceilings."

An infrared camera is then used to pinpoint the trouble spots where cool air is leaking into the home.

This allows homeowners to know what areas they may need to re-insulated.
The blower door test is also good for homes that have moisture problems or ice dams.

That couple hundred test could end up saving homeowners thousands in the long run. In Duluth, meteorologist Shannon Murphy, the Northland's News Center.

If you would like more information on how to sign up for either of these tests, log onto our website at Northland's News Center dot com.