Here are some more energy saving tips to not only cut down on your electric, water, and gas bills, but also your carbon emissions!

• Lighting: Replace ordinary incandescent light bulbs with compact, fluorescent bulbs. They are more energy-efficient (using 75% of the energy a regular bulb would) produce less heat, and last longer
• Unplug Appliances When Not in Use: If the cord is still plugged into the socket, its likely that the charger or appliance is still consuming electricity, even if it is turned off or the gadget is not attached to the charger
• You can invest a small amount of money in water saving shower and faucet heads that aerate the water and dramatically reduce the amount of water used in your home
• Plant trees around your house that will grow large in the coming years. This will help shade your house in the summer, blocking out the sun and giving the whole house some cooling relief

For more steps on how to reduce energy consumption, check out the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy at http://www.epa.gov and http://www.energy.gov.

Have an especially high energy bill this month? Looking for ways to cut corners on your budget and leave a smaller carbon footprint? Here are some helpful hints on how to save energy and money in the home.

• Insulate and Seal Air Leaks: This creates a constant in-home temperature and prevents cool air from escaping in the summer and heated air from escaping in the winter
• Heating and Cooling: Set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature when using heat, and the highest comfortable temperature when cooling the house
• Ventilation and Air Ducts: Clean out ventilation system and check for any leaks
• Work with the Sun: During the summer, keep the window blinds closed to prevent the sun from heating your house further, and in the winter, open the blinds to allow the sun to heat the air inside
• Appliances: When buying new appliances, always choose energy-efficient ones with up-to-date technology. Make sure to also compare the operating cost of the appliance with the purchasing cost of the appliance