President Barack Obama used the word energy just once during his inaugural address, but energy efficiency remains a key part of his economic-stimulus plan. During Obama's first week or so in office, the 111th Congress has been considering the $800-billion-plus American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009. The House passed it, 244-188, on January 28. Several provisions of the plan target energy efficiency:

• $11 billion for a smart grid to modernize electricity transmission and make renewable sources more feasible.

• $6.2 billion for the weatherization of low-income homes to reduce heating- and cooling-related energy use.

• $300 million in rebates for consumers who replace old appliances with higher-efficiency Energy Star models. (Read "Rebates and Tax Credits Can Lower Appliance Costs" for further information.)

This country has a long road to hoe on the energy-efficiency and climate-change fronts, and some question the Obama administration's proposals. (Read this January 24 opinion piece in The New York Times by J. Wayne Leonard, chief executive of Entergy, an electric company.) Republicans in the House called for deeper tax cuts for small businesses and less in the way of nonessential spending, like $200 million to restore the National Mall. Energy efficiency doesn't appear to be in Congressional crosshairs, but there will be more debate before the president sings the bill into law.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Learn how to cut your heating bill and boost the value of your home. And find out about tax breaks and incentives for alternative-energy systems.