Following are some easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy:

• Install a programmable thermostat.  This allows you to vary your house temperature depending upon the time of day.  For instance, while you are at work you can set the thermostat to use less energy (higher temperature in the summer, lower in the winter).  Your house only needs to be comfortably warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer when someone is home.

• Whenever possible, use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the ENERGY STAR® label.  These come in a wide variety of sizes and wattage equivalents.
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.  Washing dishes in the dishwasher is utilizes less water than washing by hand.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. If possible, locate the power strip where it is accessible and actually turn off your computer and other peripherals when you are not using them.
• This is true for all of your home electronics.  Plug them into power strips with surge protection, which will also save them from being damaged by a lighting strike, and turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use.  Almost everything in your house uses several watts of power while in standby mode.  Nothing is ever really off, unless you separate it from its electrical source.
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.  Better still, get a programmable thermostat for your water heater and program it to heat up the water an hour prior to waking up.  It doesn’t need to keep your water hot while you sleep or you are away at work.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.  Generally speaking, the most efficient speed for an internal combustion engine is 40 – 60 mile per hour.  In general, smaller, lighter weight cars will get better mileage at higher speeds.  Bigger, heavier, cars will do better at lower speeds.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The typical homes utility bill is approximately $1,900 a year.  Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy usage is wasted, with lights and electronics left on unnecessarily, poor insulation of household openings, and poorly designed appliances and home electronics that are always drawing power. Each year, electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars.
Speaking of cars, transportation accounts for nearly 67% of all U.S. oil consumption. Regardless of the statistics, there is a lot you can do to develop greener more sustainable practices by saving energy (and money) in your home and in your car. Start by making small changes today.

The way to achieve real savings is to develop whole-house energy efficiency plan. In order to do this, you must take a whole-house approach, viewing your home as an interconnected energy system composed of interdependent parts. For example, your heating system is not just the gas or oil furnace, it is a heat-delivery system that creates heat and delivers throughout your home using a network made up of plenums, supplies, and returns. Even the best energy-efficient furnace will waste energy if the ducts, walls, attic, windows, and doors are not properly sealed and insulated. Taking a whole-house approach ensures that dollars you invest to save energy are spent wisely.

Energy-efficient strategies not only make for a more comfortable home but they also provide long-term financial rewards. Often times, reduced utility bills will compensate you for the conservation strategies you implement.  Also, implementing these strategies can increase the value of your property.