CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) are swirly looking light bulbs, and they can save you money and energy. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that CFLs can save up to 75% of lighting energy. Of course, the best way to reduce your energy bill is to turn off the lights when you leave a room. Note: there is still some debate as to the health risks of CFLs, especially to those prone to migraines or with photosensitive epilepsy, so talk to your doctor before making the switch to CFLs.

One of the best ways to conserve energy at home this summer, and save money on your cooling bill, is to use a programmable thermostat. In summer, turning the thermostat up to 75 degrees when you are home and 80 degrees when you are gone could save as much as 30% on your next cooling bill.

Ceiling fans, window fans, or plain table top fans all create air movement in a room. If you use ceiling fans with your air conditioner, you will be able to raise the thermostat temp by 4°F without feeling a difference. And if you're lucky enough to live in a temperate climate, you could save even more energy by opening up the windows for a cool breeze.

The typical American home spends 20% of their energy bills on appliances like washers, dryers, refrigerators, TVs, water heaters, computers, and dishwashers. Save energy by turning off appliances when you're not using them. Did you know that your appliances are using power even when they are shut off? You can reduce the amount of this so-called "phantom energy loss" by installing power strips and turning them off when the appliances are not in use.

You can reduce the amount of energy it takes to cool your home in the summer by planting trees and shrubs near your air conditioner. By shading the AC, it takes less time to cool down and less energy to cool your home, increasing its efficiency by as much as 10%. Just make sure to leave some space for maintenance.

Water? To reduce energy? Yep. If you turn down your water heater's temp by just 10°F you could save between 3%-5% in energy costs!

Want more Energy Saving Ideas? Check out the Department of Energy's Energy Savers Website.

With all the money you save on energy costs, you can invest in a homeowners insurance policy--keep that energy efficient home protected!

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