15 Ways to Save Money (and Energy) at Home

Whether it's the troubled economy or you're trying to get your finances in order there are steps you can take at home to cut back on your expenses. As an added bonus these are also ways you can save energy, so you're saving your money and the environment simultaneously. Implement some of these suggestions and you can add a couple thousand dollars to your bank account.

1. Put outdoor lights on a timer or use sensors. This keeps lights from staying or coming on during the daylight hours.

2. Have a conversation with your utility company. Utility companies across the country are offering rebates and incentives to customers that take conservation measures. It may be a rebate for using compact fluorescent light bulbs or for installing energy efficient appliances. It doesn't hurt to ask, so check out the website or give the power company a call.

3. Green your holiday lights. Use LED light strings during the holidays. It's shown to save you in the neighborhood of $11 per season.

4. Let the dishwasher wash the dishes. Consumer Reports found it's unnecessary to rinse your dishes before you load them in the dishwasher. You can save up to 6,500 gallons of water each year by letting the dishwasher do its job.

5. Let the washing machine work. Speaking of washing--let your washing machine and detergent do its job with the cold cycle. Most detergents have germ killing agents so hot water isn't necessary to clean the germs. Cold water does the trick!

6. Line dry clothes. When possible, dry your clothes on a clothes line or hang your clothes on hangars and hang them inside the house. If you have to use the clothes dryer, don't put too many clothes in each cycle.

7. Lower the temperature two degrees. When nobody is home or right before you welcome guests, lower the temperature on the thermostat a couple of degrees in winter. This helps to keep the heater from kicking on as often--saving you money and saving energy.

8. Insulate and seal. Reduce the cost of energy by about 30 percent by insulating and sealing cracks in ducts.

9. Insulate properly. Make sure your home is properly insulated. This is especially true for older homes. Proper insulation can cut your heating and cooling bills down by 10 percent.

10. Call in a professional. Professional energy auditors can inspect your home, using professional equipment, to find energy leaks. You can find a professional energy auditor in your area at www.resnet.us.

11. Clean the fridge coils. By keeping the coils under or behind the fridge it helps the fridge to run more efficiently, which saves energy and money.

12. Use power strips. Plug items into a power strip that can be turned off all at once. Turn the strip off when these items are not in use.

13. Portable heating and cooling units. Instead of running the central heat or air system, use portable heating and cooling systems to heat and cool the areas of your home where needed.

14. Block out the sun. Use shades, drapes and curtains to block out the sun on hot days. This helps to keep the air conditioner from kicking on more because the sun streaming in the windows is raising the temperature of the room.

15. Use trees for shade. Plant shade trees on the west side of your home to help shelter it from direct sun and keep the inside temperature cooler.