In today's world of high energy prices there are several easy steps you can take that will help reduce your home's energy bills. From heating to air conditioning to electricity and water heating - energy savings can happen year-round. And, in addition to the cost saving benefits for you, using less energy means you'll also be helping the environment - an overall win-win situation. To get you started, here are the top 10 places you can look to save energy in your home. 

Lighting

Air Infiltration is the leading cause of high energy bills in your home.

Air infiltration is a problem that's easy to correct while your house is being built. Most existing homes in America have this energy problem. One of the country's most critical home energy problems is air infiltration. United States Government Energy Labs estimate that air infiltration wastes up to 40% of every home heating and cooling dollar. Unfortunately, most residential buildings were constructed before the size of the problem, and the ease of the solution, were so widely known.Have your contractor fill and seal all the gaps in and around the house framework — during construction — to block air infiltration at the house, before it can get started. Then insulate your home with some form of Better Insulation. Just Call a contractor in your area listed on this site for a free consultation. What is it? People call it "air infiltration" but, technically, it's unwanted, uncontrolled air-flow through the house, moving in or out of the structure. For example, in cold weather, the heated air inside the house flows out. Frigid outside air and moisture leak in rooms feel drafty. This uncontrolled air disrupts the temperature, air pressure and humidity of the living space, in any weather. The heating and cooling system has to work harder to maintain your family's comfort. Energy is wasted and that causes higher utility bills. How does it occur? Air infiltration is caused by leaks around windows and doors, and by the spaces, joints, voids and cracks hidden inside the structure. Hidden is the problem. Once the house is finished, gaps become invisible but they are there. Air penetrates the building shell in one location, flows through interior cavities and emerges at a different location. Typically, this uncontrolled air travels through the house inside walls and ceilings, under baseboards, and along hidden pathways in the plumbing and electrical system. Even the best-built houses have seams and gaps that permit air infiltration. The Answer. It's that simple. Get information. Make a decision. Save yourself a lot of money.

    

    Saving water and the energy you use to heat it can significantly lower utility bills. Start by installing aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads. Repair leaky faucets and toilets promptly. Lower the thermostat on your water heater - a setting of 120°F provides comfortable hot water for most uses. Insulate your hot-water storage tank and the first 6 feet of the hot and cold water pipes connected to the water heater. If your water heater is more than seven years old seriously consider purchasing a new energy-efficient one.

AND:

Don't get your high utility bills in hot water! Wrap that Rascal!

If you have old windows, consider installing new, high-performance energy efficient windows. Less expensive solutions include using a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Install tight-fitting, insulating window shades. Install exterior or interior storm windows; storm windows can reduce heat loss through the windows by 25 to 50 percent. 
    

    Dishwashers: Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded, when you run it. Let your dishes air dry; if you don't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster. Replacing a dishwasher manufactured before 1994 with an ENERGY STAR dishwasher can save you more than $25 a year in electric or natural gas costs.

    Refrigerators: Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37° to 40°F for the fresh food compartment of the refrigerator and 5°F for the freezer section. Move your refrigerator out from the wall and vacuum its condenser coils once a year unless you have a no-clean condenser model. Unplug that old secondary refrigerator! When buying new look for a refrigerator with automatic moisture control and those with the ENERGY STAR label.
    

    In the average home, 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. This includes VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers and kitchen appliances. You can avoid this energy loss by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip to cut all power to the appliance.

    For computers it's important to make sure the power management feature is activated. There is a common misconception that screen-savers reduce energy use by monitors; they do not. Automatic switching to sleep mode or manually turning monitors off is always the better energy-saving strategy. When purchasing new electronics, consider ENERY STAR qualified models. For example, an ENERGY STAR computer uses 70 percent less electricity than computers without this designation.
    

    Research shows the typical family washes nearly 400 loads of laundry per year. Conventional washers use about 40 gallons of water per full load, which translates to almost 16,000 gallons of water annually just for laundry. By switching to an ENERY STAR qualified washer, which uses only 16 to 25 gallons of water per load, you reap a savings of 35 to percent; these washers also use 50 percent less energy per load. An ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer has been proven to save upwards of $110 per year on utility bills.

 For details on energy efficiency, rebates and a listing of stores near you that stock ENERGY STAR qualified lighting and appliances visit www.myenergystar.com.

     This information is provided by the Northeast ENERGY STAR Lighting and Appliance Initiative; a group of utility companies, aggregators and energy efficiency groups in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont that encourage energy efficiency through the use of ENERGY STAR qualified products to help residents save money and protect the environment.