By MATT MAURY

During the holidays, many people think about reducing their waist, but it also a good time for people to consider reducing their WASTE - energy waste, that is.

Over time, utility bills can creep up, slowly biting off larger and larger chunks of the budget. By exercising a few energy-saving measures, utility bills can be brought back down to a more manageable size. Areas of the house that feel drafty or cool can be made more comfortable and usable by making heating efforts more efficient.

The benefits of reducing the amount of energy used by a house goes beyond shrinking bills and increasing comfort; they help to conserve natural resources and lessen the negative effect on the environment.

Homes built before the 1970s usually have little or no insulation and vast improvements can be made by adding insulation, caulking and upgrading appliances. Homes constructed after the energy crisis in the early '70s are equipped with some insulation, but can also achieve better performance by implementing energy-saving measures.

Over 50 percent of the energy consumed in an average house is used for space heating. Another almost 20 percent is used to heat water. Air conditioning, refrigeration, appliances and lighting use up the other 30 percent. Being the major user of energy also makes space heating the major loser.

As cool air from the outdoors leaks into a house, the air being warmed by the furnace inside leaks out at the same rate. Warm air leaks out of the house through the walls and floor in the basement. Leaks in the heating ducts themselves can result in a loss, as well as air escaping around fireplace dampers. Doors and windows also let warm air out as the cold air comes in.

Adding insulation can help slow down the infiltration of air. Many homes have area around attics, garages, crawl spaces and basements that were built with little or no insulation. Even when they are insulated, walls and ceilings can contribute to about 25 percent of a home's heat loss.

Having additional insulation blown into the walls or laid in the attic can help cut those losses. Caulking cracks and holes that develop and replacing old cracked caulking will help keep the heat in. Replacing single-pane windows with double-pane insulated glass and adding weather-stripping will significantly reduce drafts. Doors that don't fit properly or that are thin can be replaced and weather-stripped also.

Inefficient and obsolete appliances can cause utility bills and homeowners to suffer. Keep furnaces in top working order by having them serviced regularly, having the ducts cleaned and changing the filters every three months. If a recommendation is made to replace an older furnace, it may also be time to look into switching from one type of heating to another.

Water heaters can be made more efficient by lowering the temperature setting and wrapping the tank in a special insulating blanket. Refrigerators, ovens and clothes dryers should all be kept in good working order.

Family habits can also be a culprit when it comes to inefficient energy use. Leaving lights and heat on when nobody is home, taking long, hot showers, doing small loads of laundry, and making many trips to the refrigerator all take their toll. Often, just being aware of habits and making an effort to change them can make a difference.

Mechanically, there is other help available. Contractors are available with timers, photocells and fluorescent fixtures to make lighting more efficient. A thermostat can be installed that can be programmed to turn heat down automatically both at night and at times when the house is usually empty. Installing low-flow shower heads can cut water use in the shower by up to one-half.

It is possible to caulk, weather-strip and insulate a house to the point where it is too tight. It is good for some fresh air to get in to keep the air in the house from getting stale and unhealthy, as well as to keep heavy condensation on the windows from being a problem. If a house is too tight, the exhaust from gas and oil furnaces and water heaters may reverse and send lethal fumes into the house, a situation called "backdrafting."

Appliances should be checked for backdrafting when they are serviced and after any work has been done that reduces the air infiltration into the house.

To measure the effect of improvements made, compare the monthly utility bills for one year with those of the previous year. The price of gas, oil and electricity will also affect those bills, as well as the average temperatures, but the comparison should give some indication of the amount of change.

One of the most important measures is the comfort level in the house. Eliminating chilly drafts can be a valuable benefit!