Depending on the location,age, size of the house, and level of investment, retrofitting an average home can cut energy bills by 10 to 40%. 

The government plan, called HOMESTAR, is to provide homeowner incentives based on a performance base system that will measure your home's energy efficiency improvements and reward you for them.  You will save in two ways.  You will spend less on energy bills and you will be provided a rebate from the government for the upgrades and home improvements you do. 

In the SILVER STAR, homeowners qualify for government incentives based on a list of eligible measures with installations based on a set of basic quality standards.  These government incentives range from $250 for a super-efficient appliance to as much as $4000 for the implementation of five or more efficiency measures.

The GOLD STAR track is the performance-based incentive that rewards actual audited energy savings.  Any combination of retrofit measures that results in 20% reduction would be eligible for $3,500 in incentives, with each additional 5% reduction achieving another $1500 in incentives.  Private utilities are also expected to add additional incentives.

There are two tracks in this system, Silver and Gold. 

• First off, consider the kitchen. An attractive kitchen is one of the things a person notices and remembers about a home. Rather than spending a lot of money on cabinets, why not change the knobs and hardware?  In addition, you can change switch plates for a fresh, new look. They come in a variety of colors and styles now.
• Light fixtures can be changed by following the included directions. Old styles can be made modern in a half hour. Using eco-friendly fixtures can improve a room's attractiveness while adding cleaner light and lowering your electric bill. Doorknobs, handles, and other hardware throughout the house can be retouched for a better look.
• If your carpet is looking used but you can't afford to lay new carpeting, rent a shampooer and purchase the cleaning agents for it. Using it in a high traffic room can put new life into it and put off replacement.
• Adding a new toilet seat in the bathroom and a few new towels can give a newer look to you bathroom. Replace chipped tiles around your bathroom and clean the grout to complete the look.
• Watch your front door. A loose handle and cracking paint around it will be the first thing to greet visitors. Adding stronger fixtures, a new light kit, or paint to the frame can do wonders for the image of your home. Metal frames can be painted over as well, without requiring a new frame.