1) Buy LED lights for your home.... While LED bulbs can be more expensive than incandescent light bulbs they can save you money over time. LED's use a lot less electricity than traditional light bulbs and slightly less electricity than CFL bulbs. LED's also claim to last for over 30 years, so this prevents replacing bulbs every few years and uses less electricity for the life of this bulb. Another reason to purchase LED's over CFL's is that they are not quite as durable, and if they break they contain toxic materials like mercury. Store's sometimes run sales so watch for the best sales on LED light bulbs and buy them when they are discounted.

2) Change your home air filter often..... Most homes have either a furnace or an air handler that circulates air through their home for heating or cooling. These require a filter which should be properly checked and replaced regularly. How do I know how often to change this filter you ask? It depends on the type and size of the filter and the home size and people or pets living in the home. A general rule is, for a 1 inch thick fiberglass or pleated filter to be changed every 1-3 months. However, a 5 inch pleated filter can last 3-6 months, it is important to check the rating for your specific filter and see what size is in your system to know what to purchase. We live in a 750 sq ft apartment with 3 residents and no pets, and we replace our filter, every 1-2 months. If we had a puppy we would then check and replace every month due to the extra dander and pet hair. The 1st reason to replace the filter is to protect you furnace or cooling system from damage. The motor and fan in your system can get clogged with dust, dirt, dander and hair. A typical repair or replacement of a furnace blower can cost $500 or more. The 2nd reason to replace your filter is keeping your family healthy. Indoor air quality has become a big issue in recent years due to people being home more often and a lack of fresh air circulating in the home. Changing your filter saves you money by keeping you healthy and well, and potentially saving costly time off work or doctor visits and medications. The 3rd reason would be that replacing the filter can save on energy costs. When your filter is clogged your blower works harder to pull in more air because of the blockage. This requires more energy because it is running more often and costing you more money on your electric bill.

3) Set your thermostat and leave it..... Your parents were right, stop turning up the temperature and get a blanket. Changing your thermostat settings frequently can be more costly than you think. When your furnace or air conditioner has to catch up to new temperatures it has to use more energy costing you more on your monthly bills. If your thermostat is programmable, try to program it without large temperature differences within a few hours. Trying to increase or decrease the temperature 10 degrees within two hours just wastes energy and costs you more. Also, opening your windows for a bit and then later cranking up the AC doesn't save you any money and costs way more. Your AC will have to work twice as hard to lower not just the temperature but also lower the humidity as well. In addition leaving your blinds closed during the summer can prevent the house from heating up and keep the air cooler in your home.

4) Make your home more energy-efficient.....Everyone knows "unless you are born in a barn" As my father often said, you should keep you doors and windows closed. This will keep your home colder or warmer depending on the season, using draft stoppers for your doors and windows can help cut down on costs. Leaving your blinds closed during the summer can prevent the house from heating up and keep the air cooler in your home. Just as you take your vehicle in for basic maintenance to keep it running smoothly you need to have your furnace & AC system checked at least yearly. Catching a minor problem early on can prevent major costs later and can keep it running efficiently costing you less monthly. Most people know not to leave the lights on when they leave a room, however not everyone shuts down their electronics completely. Devices left on standby, hibernate, idle or sleep mode still draw more power than you realize. Turning these devices off completely can save you more than you think.

5) Clever laundry tips and tricks....Your wardrobe can be pricey and if you would like to extend the life of your favorite Margaritaville shirt these tips will help. Always wash your clothing in cold water as often as possible, hot water can make your clothing lose their shape and fade colors. Make sure your load is not too big, this can be hard on your washer and dryer shortening their life. Too small of a load can waste detergent, dryer sheets, water and electricity or gas. Using too much laundry soap can be wasteful and can build up in your clothes over time. Washing on a gentler setting can make your clothing last longer, a heavy more intense wash cycle can break down your clothing faster. Bleach and stain removers can be helpful, however they can be harsh if overused. Every time you use a clothing dryer you are breaking down your clothing this is how lint is produced from tiny particles of your clothing. High heat on your dryer not only locks in stains but also damages the fabric faster than a lower setting. Ideally line dying your clothing is the cheapest way to dry your clothing and makes them last longer. Not everyone can hang their clothing to dry easily, so try to dry your clothes on the lowest setting that dries them in one cycle. Make sure to clean out your lint trap after each load to prevent build up of lint that keeps your clothes from drying faster. Don't forget to check the dryer vent from outside your home for blockages every couple of months.

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