MARQUETTE -- We've seen some cooler temperatures this week, and that may have inspired our Facebook viewers to ask:  "What are the most cost effective ways to heat a home?"

While changing the way you heat your home can cut down your energy bill, experts say the important thing to consider first is the home itself.  They say even some minor changes to cut down on air infiltration and improve insulation can make a big difference, whether you own your home or are just renting.

Kerry Noble is what some might call a 'heat detective.'  He owns Home Evaluation Services and has performed energy audits on hundreds of homes.  He says saving big bucks on heating costs comes down to a basic principal.

"Energy savings first...all isn't necessarily all the sexy stuff," says Noble.  "It's the basic stuff:  it's air sealing, making sure we define what's heated space and what's not heated space and keeping them separate.

For every full energy audit, Noble does a blower door test.  The machine simulates 20 mph wind hitting all four walls of a home at the same time.  You might be surprised at some of the leaky culprits: light fixtures, electrical outlets and even light switches.

Noble says it typically costs anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 make a typical home energy efficient, but every home is different.  For those tight on cash or renting, even quick fixes like covering windows with plastic or weather stripping windows and doors can cut down on drafts, saving you money.

Once your home is heat efficient, you can look to changing your fuel source to save even more.

Facebook viewer Randi Quayle Laakso writes:  "We heat totally with wood, I would hate to see what it would cost if we had to heat our house entirely with propane."

Swick Heating and Plumbing offers indoor wood stoves ranging from $1,000 to $4,000.  They say stoves have become smaller and safer in recent years and do cut down on an energy bill, all while utilizing a renewable resource.

"You can save quite a bit of money, and it's a good feeling people have when they know they're using a renewable resource," says Sales Consultant Norm Balko.  

Many say now is the best time to think about updating your energy sources, simply because there are also dozens of rebates currently available.  To find out what rebates are available to you, click here.