Cut Your Energy Bills Fast

1. Set back your thermostat. If you lower the temperature ten degrees for at least eight hours a day, you can save ten percent on your energy bills - without sacrificing your comfort.

2. Do a home energy audit. These surveys analyze how and where you use energy, helping you pinpoint easy ways to cut back on electricity and natural gas consumption throughout your home.

3. Upgrade your attic insulation. Upgrading attic insulation from three inches to 12 inches can cut your heating bills by 20 percent - and air conditioning bills by 10 percent.

4. Weatherize doors and windows. A few inexpensive tubes of caulk and rolls of weatherstripping can help reduce heating bills by 20 percent and cooling bills by 10 percent.

5. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. They last ten times longer than ordinary bulbs, and they use 75 percent less energy. You'll save $40 over the life of just one bulb!

6. Check your furnace filter. Failing to clean or replace a filter can make your furnace and central air conditioner run harder, quickly reducing its operating efficiency and life span.

7. Install a water-saving showerhead. A family of four can cut their water-heating costs by $250 a year just by switching to an energy-saving showerhead.

8. Use smaller kitchen appliances. Microwaves, toaster ovens and slow cookers can use 75 percent less energy than a large electric oven, and they won't heat up your kitchen on hot summer days.

9. Get rid of that old refrigerator or freezer. It could be adding more than $100 to your electric bill every year. A new high-efficiency refrigerator uses less electricity than a light bulb!

10. Give your appliances a vacation too. Before you leave on a trip, turn off and unplug everything you can, lower your thermostat to 55 degrees, and set your water heater to the lowest setting.