The dreaded heating bills will soon be arriving in many mailboxes. With winter upon us we often turn the heat up and with that; more energy is used and more money is taken out of our budgets. When our wallets are affected we often look for ways to save money and when it comes to saving energy we can be green, too!

Saving energy really is a simple goal to achieve within your home or even in the workplace. There are many small things you can do that will become habit and will really make a difference in that bill! Small, simple changes really do make a difference, you’ll see! 

Here are just a few of the easiest things to do:

·       Unplug electronics when not in use; believe it or not, they are still using power!

·       Change to LED light bulbs in your home to save energy and get rid of nasty chemicals.

·       Make sure your water heater is set to no higher than 125 degrees.

·       Turn off your computer(s) at night and use the sleep mode when you step away from your desk €“ this will help save a tremendous amount of energy (up to 85% each day!)

·       Open curtains and use natural lighting during daylight hours, even move your desk or work space close to the window. Close your curtain/blinds at night to keep the heat in.

·       When you do use lights in the house, be sure to turn them off when you leave the room

·       Turn off the TV and/or video games and do art projects or cook with the kids.

·       If you are gone all day at work, turn the thermostat down while you are away; if you are home most of the day keep the thermostat 1-3 degrees below where you normally would and take advantage of slippers, sweaters and blankets.

·       Install DIY plastic-film storm windows from your local hardware store.

·       Smaller, unused rooms can be sealed off by closing the floor or wall registers and keeping the door closed.

Things that may take a bit more work, but are worth the effort:

·       Install a water heater blanket if your water heater is more than five years old.

·       Insulate the pipes around the water heater with inexpensive, easy-to-install pipe insulation.

·       Weatherstrip and caulk windows and exterior doors; check window frames for cracks and fill them in with caulk. 

Special Tips for Holiday Decorations:

·       Purchase a timer and set it for your outside holiday lights to be on no longer than six hours per day.

·       Use LED lights for outdoor décor; older holiday lights can use up to 99% MORE energy than LED light strings. 

Simple steps help us save money and be more aware of our energy consumption. The long terms effects shine bright on our budgets and on our planet! Take a few minutes out of your day to make these changes; they’ll easily become habit and you’ll love the results!

~April, Mama on a Green Mission

April blogs about parenting and going green. She and her husband have a 16 year old son, a 2 year old son and a 10 month old baby girl who have all encouraged them to make greener choices in their home. Learn more at Mama on a Green Mission.