Owning a home is expensive, and most people are concerned about the amount of electricity they use, whether it is because of financial reasons, concerns about the environment, or both. Fortunately, with a little foresight and extra care, it’s easy to reduce your electrical expenditure.

Of course, energy efficient appliances are ideal and typically pay for themselves within a year of use. However, if you can’t afford to replace your appliances, there are things you can do to maximize efficiency. An easy refrigerator solution is to keep the freezer as full as possible – it costs less to freeze a full compartment than an almost empty one. Deciding what you wish to get from the refrigerator before opening the door can save a lot of energy because very little cold air is lost when you quickly open and shut the door. Make sure to clean the refrigerator vent so that it doesn’t have to work extra hard.

Cooking and baking in larger batches – and freezing the extra – is another easy way to save time and money while helping to make your carbon footprint smaller. The idea is that while the oven has already been heated, bake as many things as you can comfortably manage. This keeps you from having to heat the oven multiple times a week. Try not to open the oven door while things are baking unless absolutely necessary – it loses a lot more heat than you realize, and it takes more energy to get the oven back to the right temperature.

Keeping curtains drawn in both summer and winter can significantly cut down on temperature loss or increase, causing your heating or cooling system to have to work less. Likewise, changing a heat pump’s air intake filter regularly reduces strain on your system and wallet.

Unplugging all non-essential items when not in use, such a microwaves and televisions, can save you $200 or more per year. Don’t forget your toaster and coffee maker. Even keeping charging devices plugged into an outlet causes energy loss.

Adjusting your home’s temperature by just a few degrees can result in hundreds of dollars of savings per year. If you usually keep your heat at 70, try keeping it set at 65 and wearing an extra sweater. Many people find they adapt to the cooler temperature quickly. Likewise, if you keep your air conditioning set at 70, try keeping it set at 75.

Small changes add up quickly and you can feel good about energy conservation at the same time.

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