Just about anywhere you turn today you hear talk about energy and the environment. Many individuals and companies take pride in the fact that they are environmentally-friendly and energy efficient. This growing trend has made its way to the average American household as well, where the economic benefits of “going green” are rapidly becoming more and more apparent.

Most average families probably won’t be rushing out anytime soon to purchase large, expensive solar heating or wind energy systems to put on the roof or in the back yard. There are several less drastic ways of reducing your homes energy consumption, however, which allow you to go green while putting some green back in your pocket.

Here are 5 energy efficiency tips that can quickly get you on the path to savings:

1. Make sure your home is properly insulated. Insufficient insulation and drafty doors and windows allow valuable hot or cold air to seep out and into the atmosphere, causing your furnace or air conditioning unit to work longer and harder to keep you warm or cool. Seal any drafty doors or windows with foam insulation or weather stripping. Check your home’s eaves and attics for proper insulation usage to ensure that hot areas remain hot, and cold areas remain cold.
2. Turn the thermostat down at night and when you are not at home. Lowering the thermostat when not needed can save up to 20% on your heating bills, which can add up to a sizeable chunk of change over a year’s time. Installing programmable thermostats also makes it easy to lower your heating energy costs. These easy to install and use devices automatically lower the thermostat when you leave for work in the morning, and raise it back up just before you get home.
3. Replace older appliances with newer, more energy-efficient models. Outdated appliances are more than just an eyesore, they can actually be costing you more in the long run than it would cost to purchase a new model. Older refrigerators, for instance, can use up to 3 times the amount of energy as a newer, energy-efficient model.
4. Turn off lights, computers, televisions, and other electronic devices when not in use. Sounds simple, right? It actually may not be as simple as you think. The majority of household electronic entertainment devices and computers continue to drain energy even when turned off. Walk around your living room at night and take a look at all the little LED lights in your entertainment center. These “Energy Vampires” can drain up to 10% of your monthly energy costs due to this “phantom” or “standby” power usage. Use surge protected power strips for all such devices and turn the strips off when not in use to prevent this.
5. Install a low-flow shower head.  Low-flow shower heads reduce the amount of hot-water needed to shower, thus reducing the energy consumed by your home’s water heater.

In addition to the savings you can attain from these simple suggestions, utility companies in many areas offer incentives for the installation of newer, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems. Check with your local utility provider to investigate savings opportunities in your area.

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