January in New England, brrrrr. It's cold and windy outside. But why is it freezing inside too? If your home is more than 15 years old, chances are that its heat is leaking out and cold air is blowing in.

Connecticut Light & Power offers a great Home Energy Solutions Program that helps homeowners throughout the state optimize their energy usage, saving money along the way. I recently had a crew of energy experts in my Ridgefield home and, for a $75 fee, they literally saved me thousands of dollars!

I signed up at the CL&P Web site and the company assigned me a local authorized contractor. At the appointed time, a three-man crew of energy professionals arrived and checked my house for air leaks, insulation and energy efficient light bulbs. They also helped me understand how I can minimize my family's energy consumption by selecting Energy Star appliances and installing smart thermostats.

The biggest reduction in energy usage comes from creating a sealed environment in the home. The experts call this "sealing the envelope." The crew tested for leaks by setting up a blower in my front door and closing all the windows and exterior doors. As the air was blown out of the house, they used sophisticated devices to measure my home's leakage. Then they checked each individual window and door and sealed every leak with weather-stripping and caulk (all at no extra cost). They documented how much they reduced my home's leakage.

These guys also swapped every standard light bulb in the house for an energy efficient CFL (again, at no extra cost). CFLs run on about 75 percent less electricity. Then they evaluated the insulation in the attic and recommended an additional layer be blown into it. Finally, they conducted a survey of major electrical appliances and provided me with state-issued rebate forms for the purchase of new Energy Star-rated units.

The most dramatic news I learned from the energy guys was that my family would save $600 a year simply by unplugging the old refrigerator in my basement! I couldn't believe that old fridge was wasting 50 bucks a month just to keep a six-pack cold and some extra ice on hand.

I highly recommend that all homeowners take advantage of this great program. The true cost of the service is about $400, but the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund (through CL&P) subsidizes the cost. Feel free to contact me directly if you would like to know more about my experience or just call CL&P at 1-877-WISE-USE to set up your own visit. You could save thousands!

Rob Gutman is a real estate agent at Keller Williams Realty and also writes the blog Real Estate Chocolate.  You can contact him directly at rgutman@gmail.com.