Temperature Regulation

• Set your thermostat at the most comfortable temperature for you and leave it there throughout the year. Changing the thermostat to 72 degrees to cool down in the summer only makes sense if you are not cranking it up to 80 in the winter to warm up. Keep an even temperature all year-round to avoid energy surges from over-compensating for the outside temperatures. If you find yourself a bit chilly in the winter, wear a sweater instead of turning up the heat. Get your home ready for extreme temperatures on both sides of the thermometer by caulking, weather-stripping and installing storm doors and windows.
  
  

Waste Reduction

• If you do not recycle, start out with an extra bin for your recyclables. Whether you place the recycling bin on the curb or take it to a recycling center yourself depends on the local waste management company, but separating trash from recyclables is the way to start. Outside of recycling, reuse anything you can. Save your plastic butter and yogurt tubs for storing leftovers or for starting seedlings in the spring. Glass bottles make eco-chic vases and kitchen storage. Save newspapers for paper mache projects or to protect other surfaces for craft projects. Create a compost pile in your yard for organic wastes like food scraps and coffee grounds. The rich soil that will soon replace the compost can be beneficial to your flowerbeds and gardens.
  
  

Water

• Invest in low flow toilets and Energy Star dishwashers and washing machines to save water, as well as electricity or gas. Instead of allowing water to run while you wash individual dishes, lather your hair in the shower or brush your teeth, turn it off to save multiple gallons per minute. The temperature of your water makes a difference in the amount of energy you use as well as your electricity or gas bill amount. While an Energy Star-rated water heater is best, you can make a difference by lowering the temperature that your water is heated to and by using cold water whenever possible for washing clothes or rinsing dishes.
  
  

Household Products

• Choose organic foods from local sources whenever possible and eat what is in season in your area. This makes a significant impact, as the foods that come into the area must be shipped, usually on large, oil consuming trucks. Use organic products to clean at home as well. White distilled vinegar mixed with water can disinfect, deodorize and clean most surfaces in your home. The combination is simple, low cost and effective enough to clean a window without leaving streaks behind.
  
  

Power Down

• While it may be more convenient to leave your desktop computer running all the time, it isn't cost effective or energy smart. Power down your computer if you won't be using it within a couple of hours. Unplug the chargers for your cell phones and other small gadgets when you aren't charging the devices. The chargers themselves suck a bit of energy while they are plugged in. Remind others in your home to turn off lights and other electronics when leaving a room. If you are going on vacation or will be away from your home, shut down everything except your alarm system and refrigerator. Unplug or power down clock radios, computers, cable boxes and anything else you can think of.