You can reduce your energy bills by a third or more! We’ve found thousands of different ways to save energy. Some are obvious, many are absurdly expensive. This book concentrates on 300 easy-to-accomplish, common sense ways for you to save both money and energy at home.
From that 300, we cherry-picked our Favorite 50 most important energy-savers. They’re our favorites because they are quick, easy, cheap and effective.

1. Create a Green Team.
2. Turn it off!
3. Get an Energy Audit.
4. Replace incandescent lamps with CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps).
5. Install occupancy sensors in all closed or seldom-used rooms.
6. Reduce plug load.
7. Unplug charger units when not in use.
8. Dedicate power strips to specific equipment.
9. Activate power management software on your computer.
10. Clean light fixtures and lamps.
11. Adjust timers to accommodate the seasons and daylight savings.
12. Turn off driveway, patio and back yard lights whenever possible.
13. Cover your pool at night.
14. Buy only Energy Star lamps and fixtures.
15. Buy only Energy Star rated office equipment.
16. Pursue potential rebates and tax incentives.
17. Retire your old refrigerator.
18. Use correct temperatures.
19. Keep your refrigerator door closed.
20. Use your microwave first.
21. Wash full loads only.
22. Run high energy-using appliances like your washer, dryer or dishwasher at night.
23. Try a front-loading washing machine.
24. Wash clothes only in cold water.
25. Set your cold thermostat at 78° and hot at 68° degrees.
26. Install programmable thermostats.
27. Caulk, foam, seal up all holes, and replace worn or cracked weather stripping.
28. Seal and insulate A/C ducts in unconditioned areas.
29. Create an air curtain.
30. Check the landscaping around your A/C unit.
31. Install multi-pane low-emissivity (Low-E) windows.
32. Install (EPA) WaterSource approved products.
33. Turn off the water when shaving or brushing your teeth.
34. Keep the hot water off.
35. Install instant-hot water heaters.
36. Install pipe insulation and a water heater blanket.
37. Water in the morning.
38. Take advantage of your supermarket’s on-sale cycle.
39. Try serious couponing.
40. Buy in bulk.
41. Shop at the farmer’s market.
42. Make it at home like your grandmother did.
43. Tune up your vehicle.
44. Turn off your car.
45. Park in the first spot.
46. Be a friend to your library.
47. Buy rechargeable batteries and a charger.
48. Ship your stuff safely.
49. Reuse from last year.
50. Limit your Christmas gift giving.

There is no question that the cost of energy is going to continue to rise. These increases will force people of all ages to become more deeply involved. By using the techniques we have outlined in this book, you can create a firm ecological foundation for everyone in your household. The lessons they learn about saving energy (and money) at home will splash into their school and work lives and create the habit of energy conservation there, too. As your home’s overall carbon footprint shrinks, not only will you be doing the right thing ecologically, but you also will cut your expenses significantly.
We list over three hundred ways to save energy. You only need to remember three: Turn it OFF! Turn it DOWN! Make it more EFFICIENT!
Building a sustainable future isn’t only about saving money and energy today. It’s about ensuring our kids and grandkids have all they need to build a better tomorrow.
Many of the tips and suggestions in the sustainability section won’t save you any money at all. Still, they must become an integral part of the fabric of all our everyday lives. Listed below are our personal favorites. The most important 20 from the list of over 100 are the first steps everyone must take to help create a sustainable world. Creating a sustainable future requires that we start now before any more of the environment and the world ecology is irreparably damaged.
The fix is only achievable if we learn the environmentally correct things to do and then change our attitudes to get them done. None of the 20 steps listed below is newsworthy or particularly difficult, some aren’t even interesting enough to seem important. But each is necessary. Cumulatively, all of them contribute to a better world for your grandkids.

1. Go organic.
2. Look for recycled packaging.
3. Get involved.
4. Shop where you have a choice.
5. Pass it along, don’t throw it away.
6. Borrow and share tools.
7. Turn everything off before leaving.
8. Help save someone else’s money.
9. Donate your clunker.
10. Share the ride.
11. Re-cycle.
12. Wear more clothes.
13. Dump your meds appropriately?
14. Apply an old Boy Scout rule.
15. Help an Eagle Scout.
16. Save some of your state’s water and electricity.
17. Determine whether your personal products are personal poisons?
18. Create unique gift-wrap.
19. Use ‘Green’ cleaners and insecticides.
20. Clean out seasonal clothes to share.