With the cost of energy continuing to climb, taking certain steps around the house can lower your utility bills.
Simple changes in household behavior can help to lower your energy usage and put a little extra cash in your pocket.

There are numerous things you can do on a daily basis to help reduce your energy usage:

Laundry:
Don't do partial loads for clothes washing, unless it is an item that can bleed color.

Try to use cold and warm water more often than hot water when washing clothes.

Air dry clothes when possible, and use cool-down and moisture sensor options on your dryer.

Kitchen:
Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator - Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.

If you have a manual defrost freezer or refrigerator, don't let frost build up more than one quarter of an inch.

Air dry dishes instead of using the drying cycle on dishwasher, and only use it when it is full.

Use your toaster oven to cook smaller meals - they use one-third to one-half as much energy as a full-sized stove/oven.

Everywhere Else
Electronic devices consume energy even when turned off.

Plug them into a power strip. When you are going to bed or leaving the house, turn off the power strip.

Instead of screen savers, set your computer to go into sleep mode after several minutes of inactivity.

Laptop/notebook computers use less energy than desktop computers - another reason to upgrade your old machine!

More tips are available on the U.S. Department of Energy website - www.energysavers.gov.