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#1: Buy more efficient appliances

Today's appliances are more efficient than ever. According to the U.S. government, the average household spends $1,900 annually on energy. By investing in Energy Star appliances you could save up to 30%. That's more than $600 per year. When making a appliance replacement decisions, be sure to include the ongoing energy costs. You may find out that you'll save money by replacing an inefficient appliance sooner, rather than later. Check out the government's Energy Star web site for a product list and energy calculator.

#2: Buy a fuel efficient car

That old gas guzzler is bleeding your wallet dry. Go to fueleconomy.gov for side-by-side mileage comparisons of new and used cars. WIth the price of gas exploding this year, many people are finding that the cost of replacing their old inefficient car pays for the purchase of an efficient replacement.

#3: Monitor your electricity consumption

It's a lot more difficult to save electricity if you don't have a good sense of how much you're using. Watching your monthly bill or even your meter is not enough information to help you identify the items in your house that are sucking up all the energy. Today there are solutions that can help:

• The Energy Detective
• Kill-A-Watt
• Blueline PowerCost Monitor

#4: Capture and use gray water

Gray water is water that would normally go down the shower, sink, dish washer, or laundry drain. From 50-80% of a households waste water is considered "gray." This water can be reclaimed and reused for other purposes. Solutions range from simply watering your garden with your laundry water to complex systems that capture, filter, and store gray water from throughout your house. Start small. Here are some places to get more information:

• Gray Water Central
• Water Saver Technologies
• Wikipedia article on gray water
  

#5: Replace incandescent lights with CFLs

Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs are an easy, cost-effective way to conserve energy and save money. However, for me, the biggest benefit is replacing bulbs less often. CFLs last up to 10 times longer than a traditional incandescent bulb, and use up to 75% less energy. That equates to a life time savings of $30 or more! It's true that they can take a few minutes to warm up and they can sometimes emit an audible "buzz." However, the technology seems to be getting better. Regardless, the benefits far outweigh these small annoyances. Unless you've been living under a rock, you know CFLs can be purchased anywhere that light bulbs are sold.

#6: Shrink your living radius

Buying a fuel efficient car helps. However, if you're really burdened by automobile fuel costs there's only one solution: shrink your living radius. Start by doing a quick calculation of the distances you travel each month to work, church, doctors, entertainment, etc. Next calculate how much you spend to drive to all of these locations. Lastly, list the ways in which you can significantly shrink your living radius. For most people, driving to work each day is the biggest culprit. If you're in that situation, you might consider moving closer to work, getting a job closer to home, or exploring the possibility of working from home. The former two ideas involve major life changes. The latter one is less significant, but may not be appropriate for your situation. Consider, however, the stress you could avoid by living in close proximity to work. Most people could save 30-40 hours of time and $150-200 per month in gasoline. Tempting, isn't it?

#7: Install a programmable thermostat

According to the government's Energy Star site, the average family could save $200 each year by simply installing a programmable thermostat and following these guidelines:

#8: Unplug stuff you're not using

Most electronic devices consume electricity even when they aren't not on. This is called standby or vampire power. Here are some ways to decrease standby power consumption:

• Simply unplug everything you're not using. This includes cell phone transformers, computers, and entertainment systems.
• Turn your entertainment and computer systems on and off using a power strip, which cuts off power completely.
• Purchase a device that fits between the plug and the outlet which prevents standby power, such as Bye Bye Standby.
  

#9: Plant a xeriscape yard

Xeriscaping refers to landscaping which utilizes indigenous local plants that do not require supplemental irrigation and chemicals. It is most popular in arid areas of the country, such as Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. However, the principles can be applied to any location. Although it takes a bit of upfront +planning and investment, the benefits are considerable:

• Save s water, time, and money
• Eliminates lawnmower polution
• Resists drought
  

For more information, check out the EarthEasy article on xeriscaping.

#10: Insulate and ventilate your attic

The only thing between you and the elements above is your roof and attic. Making an investment into your attic's insulation and ventilation will ensure that the extreme heat and cold from outside will not penetrate your ceiling. Most homes have inadequate insulation and ventilation.

Install an automatic attic fan. When attic temperatures hit the designated temperature the fan will start blowing out the hot air. This will result in keeping the home below the attic up to 10 degrees cooler.

Bonus ideas:

• Tankless hot water heaters
• Low-flow toilets
• Edible Landscaping.

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