You have the power to control your energy costs
Touchstone Energy has created a home energy savings guide that offers a great starting point to get you on track toward better energy management for your home.

• Home Energy Savings Guide
• Quick tips to save energy
• Heating tips
• Water-Heating and Laundry tips
• Dishwasher tips
• Cooling tips

Below are energy tips from the US Department of Energy.  

• Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter (68-70 degrees) and comfortably high in the summer (76-78 degrees). Installing a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating and cooling system can help you set a schedule for your operating system to run efficiently. If you are away from your home for several days set the thermostat back to 55 degrees.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. Use up to 75% less energy when using ENERGY STAR® qualified CFLs.
• Instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle let the dishes air dry.
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Also wrap your hot water heater.
• Plug home electronics into a power strip. When turning off these electronics, power down the power strip to prevent stand-by mode from drawing electricity unnecessarily.
• Plug home electronics, such as television sets and DVD players, into power strips, and turn the power strip off when the equipment is not in use. Cable and satellite boxes use large amounts of electricity 247/365.
• Change air filters every month. Dirty filters can increase the operating cost of your cooling or heating unit. Routinely check furnace filters every 30 days and clean or replace them as needed.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products. They can use 10-50% less energy than standard models.
• Unplug electronics, battery chargers and other equipment when not in use. Taken together, these small items can use as much power as your refrigerator.
• Do not block heat registers or cool air returns with large curtains or furniture.
• More winter energy use in vacant homes can be attributed to less activities such as cooking, entertaining, turning on lights or doing things which provide free secondary heat in the home.
• Weather-strip around doors, windows and wall seams, and seal places where electrical, plumbing or heating systems penetrate your home.

• Purchase an efficient heating system. If you're thinking about purchasing a new heating system, look for ENERGY STAR models. These are the most energy-efficient models on the market, and they can save energy, save money and help the environment.
• Don't let heat go up the chimney. If you have a fireplace, make sure the flue is closed when you're not using it.
• Distribute the heat evenly. Ceiling fans set at a slow speed push warm air away from the ceiling and move it around the room without creating a chilling breeze. This spreads the heat more evenly and will make you feel more comfortable.
• Tune up your heating system. Have your heating system tuned and inspected by a service professional. Losses from a poorly-maintained system accumulate over time -- sometimes at a rate of 1% to 2% each year.
• Insulate properly. Make sure your walls and attic are properly insulated. Adding fiberglass insulation in your attic is one of the most cost-effective savings measures and one that you can do yourself.
• Seal leaks. Leaks develop in all air ducts over time. Sealing leaks in ducts can reduce heating costs by up to 20%. Reductions of 10% are not uncommon.
• Lower your thermostat. Lowering the thermostat by as little as 1 degree F typically reduces your heating bill by 1% to 3%. Most energy experts recommend setting the thermostat to 68 degrees F or less, and several degrees cooler overnight. Make sure you lower your thermostat if you are leaving the house for any length of time. You use less energy to heat the house up when you return than to keep it heated while you're away.
• Conserve with a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat lets you easily lower the thermostat when no one is home, as well as lower the temperature overnight without having to freeze while waiting for the house to heat up later. You might save as much as 20% on your heating costs and recover your investment in the first year.
• Use the sun's heat. Keep drapes and shades on the south facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
• Replace single pane windows. Not only are they inefficient, but worn and dirty windows can be unsightly as well. Replacing them with energy-efficient windows is a major investment, but in colder climates, the heating savings can be considerable.
• Clean and keep them clear. Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as needed. Make sure they are not blocked by any furniture, carpeting or drapes.
• Caulk. Caulk windows and doors to prevent drafts.
• Insulate outlets. Electrical outlets let cold air into the house. Remove the outlet covers and insert special insulation underneath. Use special insulating plugs in all outlets that are not being used.
• Turn off the pilot light. If your heating system has a pilot light, turn it off during the summer.
• Switch it. During the winter months make sure your ceiling fan is rotated so that it produces an upward air flow.

• Buy ENERGY STAR models. If you're thinking about purchasing a new clothes washer or dishwasher, look for ENERGY STAR models. These are the most energy-efficient models on the market, and they can save energy, save money and help the environment.
• Fix drippy faucets. A faucet that leaks one drip per second can waste 400 gallons of water a year. If the water is hot, you will pay the cost of heating that 400 gallons plus the cost of the water itself.
• Upgrade your showerheads. Federal standards limit new showerheads to no more than 2.5 gallons per minute because the energy and water savings are enormous. Replacing older showerheads with low-flow units could save a family of four as much as 15,000 gallons of water per year, reducing the associated water heating costs as well.
• Install a water softener. Install a water softener unit in-line before the water heater. This will prevent sediment from building up in the bottom of the water heater.
• Turn down your water heater. Lower the temperature of your water heater to save energy and reduce the chance of scalding. A 10 degree F reduction in temperature saves about 13% of water-heating costs. A temperature setting of 120 degrees F is fine, unless your dishwasher doesn't have a booster heater.
• Insulate your water heater. Wrapping your water heater with an insulating blanket can help you save. To see if your tank needs an insulation blanket, place your hand on the tank. If it feels warm, then you need a blanket.
• Insulate water lines. Simple valves, known as heat traps, can be attached to the water lines near the water heater to keep heat from escaping.
• Rinse with cold water. Most people in the appliance industry agree that cold water washes just as effectively as warm. Eliminating warm rinse cycles will save energy and money.
• Soak your clothes first. Soak cycles can allow for shorter wash times. For heavily-soiled clothes, instead of a heavy wash cycle, try soaking and then using a shorter wash cycle.
• Use shorter washing cycles. Sort clothes by degree of dirtiness. Use shorter wash cycles for lightly-soiled clothes.
• Eliminate small loads. Your clothes washer uses just about the same amount of energy regardless of how much clothing is being washed. Washing two small loads uses approximately twice as much energy as combining them into one full load. By combining loads, you reduce the number of loads you wash, which in turn reduces your energy use.
• Front-loading washers are more energy-efficient. If you're thinking of replacing your washing machine, consider a horizontal axis or front-loading unit. These machines can reduce energy use by more than 50%, use significantly less water, require less detergent and shorter drying cycles and reduce wear and tear on clothes.

• Minimize pre-rinse. Newer dishwashers are better able to handle heavily-soiled dishes and require less pre-rinse.
• Load properly. Proper loading takes full advantage of the spraying action of your dishwasher. Load dishes according to the dishwasher manufacturer's instructions.
• Wash full dish loads. Your dishwasher uses the same amount of water regardless of how many dishes are washed. Wash full loads whenever possible.

• Keep cool and save with a ceiling fan. ENERGY STAR-qualified ceiling fans have optimized fan blades and motors; those with qualified light kits are 50% more energy efficient than standard models. Turn the fan off when leaving the room, though. A ceiling fan doesn't cool a room -- it only cools people through a wind chill effect against the skin.
• If you use window fans, place them on the cool side of the house blowing into the house. Fans blowing to the outside can depressurize a house, creating dangerous back drafting problems with water heaters or other combustion appliances. Attic fans and whole house fans are not recommended for the same reason.
• Save while you're asleep or away. ENERGY STAR-qualified programmable thermostats save energy and money without sacrificing comfort. Save up to 15% on cooling costs. It is better to turn off your air conditioner if you’ll be gone for more than four hours. It costs more to maintain your home’s temperature than to re-cool it.
• Find problems before they occur. Remember to get an annual tune-up from a certified technician. Dirt and neglect are the main causes of system failure. Keep filters clean or replace every month and keep the outside fins on the air conditioner free of dirt and debris.
• Find and seal air leaks. Hidden gaps and cracks in a home can add up to as much airflow as an open window and can cause the cooling system to work harder. Sealing the home "envelope" (the outer walls, ceiling, windows and floors) can save up to 10 percent in energy costs. Pay special attention to the attic and basement.
• Tighten your ducts. It is common to find gaps between duct joints in a home, whether new or old. Save up to 10 percent on bills by having the ducts inspected, sealed and insulated to increase indoor air quality, maximize the movement of cooled air to all rooms of the home, and prevent loss of cooled air to areas between walls, ceilings and floors.
• The most comfortable cooling effect is achieved through lower humidity, either from your air conditioner or a dehumidifier. If you use a dehumidifier, set it to operate between 45% and 50% and make sure the coils are clean and the drain operates. If you have an older model that doesn't have a humidistat, consider replacing it with an ENERGY STAR model; not only will it do a better job of removing moisture, it will also be much cheaper to operate.
• Out with the old, in with the new. If your home's air conditioning (either central or room units) need frequent repairs, the equipment is more than 10 years old or your energy bills are significantly increasing, it may be time to replace it with ENERGY STAR qualified systems; look for a SEER rating of at least 13 for central systems and an EER rating of at least 11 for window units.
• Make a smart purchase. Make sure new equipment is properly sized and installed -- bigger is not always better. Units with too large a capacity will cost more and may actually decrease comfort.
• Keep window coverings closed during the day. Preferably close curtains on the south and west facing windows. Also at night close window coverings to reduce heat loss.
• Use a fan with your window air conditioner to help spread cool air throughout your home.
• Close doors to rooms that are not being used to decrease the amount of area that needs to be cooled.
• Set your air conditioner to a higher temperature. A 5 degree higher setting on your air conditioner thermostat will save about 10% of cooling costs.
• Keep lamps or television sets away from the air conditioning thermostats. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
• Consult a professional. Find an experienced, licensed contractor before embarking on any heating or cooling overhaul.
  

A Brighter Idea

Saving money on energy costs can be as easy and twisting in a new more energy efficient light bulb – compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Learn the benefits of CFLs and much more: A Brighter Idea web site Disposal of CFLs Menards CFL recycling (see store listing)

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