photo credit: midnightcomm

Not only are energy bills breaking a lot of budgets, but we’re also choking the planet with carbon, so whether you’re looking to save energy to help pad your checkbook or so the world can breathe more freely, the following tips will help.

Cut Back on Heating

Purchase a programmable thermostat so you can drop the temperature during the day when you’re away and bring it back up to a comfortable temperature by the time you get home. You can also try to learn to live a few degrees cooler and bundle up more.

Seal up your Home

Look for cracks and any openings where the climate controlled indoor air can leak out or outside air can invade your home. Seal up these cracks to prevent drafts and energy loss.

Switch to Fluorescents

Traditional incandescent bulbs use three to four times more energy than compact fluorescent bulbs. They do cost more initially, but last quite a bit longer so in the long run you’ll be saving money on the purchase.

Use Natural Light

As often as possible, take advantage of natural light for illumination and heating. It’s free!

Check the Insulation

Typically, older homes suffer from poor insulation more frequently than newer ones, but it doesn’t hurt to check the insulation in every home as a properly insulated home saves energy costs in many ways.

Leave Nothing in your Wake

Break any bad habits of leaving lights, televisions, radios, etc on when you leave a room, or leave the house entirely. Learn to turn everything off before you exit the room and save energy where you aren’t using it.

The above energy saving tips are easy and common ways to cut down on energy consumption and costs. If you’ve already taken these steps or are looking for a more dramatic savings, get creative and come up with your own ways to limit the amount of energy you’re regularly consuming.

Cold snaps have hit some all time lows across the U.S. this year and, at the same time, many people are thinking about finding more efficient? ways to heat their home, perhaps ways that will also be less harmful for the environment. There are a number of options available that are both efficient and eco-friendly but not every solution works for every home. photo credit: midnightcomm

Solar Heat

Solar heat is quite a commitment to reducing energy bills in your home and saving the environment but it’s very effective and eco-friendly. If you’re not financially able to completely overhaul your home for solar heat try a do it yourself project that incorporates some of the benefits of the sun, or go the very inexpensive route and use your windows to draw as much solar heat and light into your home as possible. Even a small sunlight collecting mirror is a great way to start.

Earth Sheltered Homes

Not really a possibility for most existing homes but this is something to consider if you’re building. Your home doesn’t necessarily have to be completely underground, but even partial earth-bermed shelter can greatly reduce your consumption of energy, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. But for homes with a basement, you can take advantage of your pre-made earth shelter by spending more time in the basement and treating it as a family room.

Renewable Heating Fuels

Instead of going with traditional fossil fuels, look into using renewable heating fuels in your home. Renewable fuels include wood and biodiesel so using an energy efficient, wood burning fireplace is not only romantic, but a great home heating option.