Ok -- I am in MAJOR conservation mode. It looks like we'll be stuck where
we are for another couple three years courtesy of the local real estate
market and job market, and the energy cooperative announced last month gas
was going up 20% on 3/1 for the second time...then they announced last week
they were going to raise it ANOTHER 20% on 4/1. Needless to say, ole JNJ is
in the market for saving energy and cutting expenses.

One thing I want to do is reduce the need for heating and/or AC consumption.
Now, our property is lined with lots of trees in the back and a few in the
front plus the neighbors are on the property line. The lot's only about
50x250, so there's not much room to work with either -- and there's a nice,
big hill that we call our back yard.

Can anyone think of any improvements we can make on the OUTSIDE to increase
energy efficiency in the house? Last year I pruned all of the trees up to
about the 6-7 foot level. There are shrubs along the perimeters and they
grow more every season. There's always room for another tree or two, but we
want to keep SOME sunlight out there for some veges this year. I'm
going to terrace the back a bit, put in some small walls (about 2-3 feet
tall each) to handle some drainage issues -- I plan on grabbing this run off
in some barrels for later use in the yard (save $$ from the water works!).

What else can be done -- any thoughts? I figure every little bit counts in
the big scheme of things so....

James