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Each American household typically spends $1,900 each year on power. Unfortunately, most of this money gets wasted on electronics that are plugged in long after use, thermostats that remain too high, power-hogging appliances, cracks under the door and conventional light bulbs. Not surprisingly, the amount of fossil fuels emitted by a house is comparable to having two cars on the road. Experts say that making small changes to save energy in your home today can help you find better savings tomorrow.

There are many easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy at home. Installing a programmable thermostat will give you better control over your home’s temperature, without needing to remember to adjust the thermostat when you leave the house or go to sleep each night. You can change all your lights to Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use less power and last longer than conventional bulbs. You can air dry dishes or hang laundry outside, instead of using the dry cycle on your appliances. When you’re not using your lights, computer, monitor, TV, DVD player or power strip, turn off the devices for better savings. Lower your water heater thermostat down to 120°F and try taking shorter showers, rather than baths.

Naturally, you’ll want to save energy in your home all year round, but some seasons are harder to get through than others. If you live in a climate with cold winters, the idea of turning the heat way down low may not appeal to you. Instead, you can open the windows on a sunny day to allow more solar energy in or, if you have leaky windows, you might want to trap heat inside by putting up heavy drapes. During the summer, the most energy efficient homes keep the lights turned off, using ceiling fans for air circulation or placing a bowl of ice next to a desktop fan.

It doesn’t have to be difficult trying to save energy in your home. The first step for many Americans is to get a better idea of how much energy can actually be saved. For $30, you can buy an energy monitor that will tell you how much power your electronics are consuming simply by plugging each appliance or device into the meter. This eye-opener will help you prioritize where changes need to be made. If you don’t have one already, the U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy agency recommends getting a programmable thermostat, which will automatically set your home to whatever temperature you choose at various times of the day.

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