Don't be surprised if you shiver when you open your heating bills this winter. American families typically spend 40 percent of their annual home energy bill on heating -- between $650 and $800 for homes in the Northeast and Midwest, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Here are some energy-saving improvements you can make this fall, courtesy of Owens Corning, manufacture of insulation.

1. Add another layer of attic insulation. As a general rule, if you have less that 12 inches of attic insulation, more will cut heating and cooling costs and make your home more comfortable.
2. Turn on the humidifier. If your furnace doesn't have a built-in humidifier, use a protable unit. Additional mositure will increase the "heat index" inside your home, making 68^oF feel more like 76^oF.
3. Put on a sweater before turning up the dial on the thermostat. Each degree you raise the thermostat increases your fuel bill by 3%.
4. Install a programmable thermostat. By turning the thermostat from 72^oF down to 65^oF for eight hours a day, you can save as much as 10% on your heating bill.
5. Open the window coverings on the South and West sides of the home on sunny days to take advantage of passive solar heat.
6. Install double-pane windows or install a clear plastic film across the insdie of your window and frame. The trapped air between the plastic film and window insulates and can reduce heat loss through the window by 25% to 50%.
7. Change furnace filters frequently. Change or clean filters monthly and also clean air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators.
8. Plug the drafts. Caulk, seal and install weather stripping around all seams, cracks and openings.