by Galen Gregory

Created on: March 06, 2009   Last Updated: March 17, 2009

As prices for all forms of energy skyrocket and the disposable income of many Americans slumps, the time is right for consumers to get serious about energy conservation. Efforts to reduce energy bills not only benefit the pocketbooks of consumers, but also help our planet as we conserve precious resources. Many tips for reducing energy bills, such as adding insulation or updating to energy efficient appliances, unfortunately require a sizable investment. The cost of such home improvements will eventually be recouped over time, but many of us simply don't have that amount of cash to spend now. Fortunately there are many simple, inexpensive changes that we can make right now which will result in noticeable changes in our energy bills.

First, let's take a look at your electric bill. According to the US Department of Energy, heating and air conditioning systems consume the most electricity in American homes. Of course, when it comes to HVAC systems, the best solution is to replace an older, inefficient system with a new, high efficiency system, but this is a very expensive investment. But, short of replacing the system, what can you do to reduce your heating and cooling costs? You should take control of the thermostat, raising it to the warmest comfortable level in summer and lowering it to the coolest setting tolerable in winter. Make use of a programmable thermostat to reduce the use of the system if no one is home during the day. It is a mistake to try to save money by skipping yearly maintenance calls to service the system, because regular service can keep your unit running more efficiently. It is also important to change filters at least once a month and to keep the outdoor unit clean and free of plant overgrowth. If you have rooms in your house that aren't used regularly, shutting off the air vents and closing the room off can reduce heating/cooling costs (not recommended, however, if you have a heat pump or if the thermostat is in the unused room). Keeping the doors open between other rooms can improve circulation throughout the house. If you use exhaust fans in the kitchen or bathroom, turn them off as soon as they have done their job, as they will deplete your house of your heated or cooled air.

Moving along to the kitchen, the refrigerator is the second biggest user of electricity in the home. If you have a fridge manufactured before 2001, you might want to consider replacing it with a newer, more efficient model. If you're not able to replace your refrigerator

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