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The average American family spends $1,900 a year on household utilities; however, a large portion of that is spent on wasted energy. Not only does wasting energy cost you more money, but it releases extra carbon dioxide into the air, slowly deteriorating the environment. Luckily, there are small, simple steps you can take to minimize your energy use.

• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the ENERGY STAR label.
• Air dry dishes instead of using the dry cycle on your dishwasher
• Only wash full loads of dishes and clothes
• Turn off electronics, such as your computer, when you they are not in use
• Use power strips for your electronics, and turn them off when they are not in use

These are just a few options for saving energy in your home. There are also longer term energy savers you can try that could reduce your energy use by up to 25%.

Check to see if your utility company offers energy audits. For a small fee, they will determine how well your home uses energy and compare the results of the analysis to your monthly bill. Once you learn how energy is being used in your home, you can learn how to make changes to minimize your use and save money.

Learn more about how you can save energy in the short and long term at www.energysavers.gov.