Energy saving lights are one of the most popular products for saving on energy consumption at home. The Sylvania LED Swivel Light ($6.49) can be mounted to nearly any surface using hooks, loop holes, Velcro or a magnet. These long-lasting, battery-operated lights can be stuck in or under kitchen cabinets, in pantries or in closets, where they’re expected to last 80,000 to 100,000 hours. Due to the easy installation, consumers are using the light for garages, sheds, cars, RVs, boats and tents. There is also a Sylvania LED dimming light ($8.98) that works much the same way but offers different settings for people who want some control over how much light they’re getting. If safety is a concern around your home, then solar powered motion sensor lights ($44.04) make the perfect energy-saving solution, which store energy all day long to light your house by night. Visit www.smarthome.com for more information on these energy efficient lighting products.

It’s hard to think about saving energy without considering the importance of revamping heating and cooling systems. “My Personal Space Heater” ($55) uses one-fifth the amount of energy that other space heaters use. Some consumers stick this ultra-safe heater right in the bed to warm it up before climbing in. Others might use it to heat up a bathroom or mount it beneath a desk to warm up the legs and hands. According to Green Home Operations director Kari Dorth, “A ‘heater sandwich’ with two My Personal Space Heaters running for 8 hours/day, 5 days/week, for 5 months, will save an additional $115.” Additionally, she says, using a normal space heater when you’re home, rather than central heating, “results in an average savings of $1,286 per year.” For more information on this neat way of increasing home energy efficiency, visit www.greenhome.com.

Lastly, many consumers are saving energy during the winter with pellet stoves instead of conventional heaters. The soothing glow of the fireplace offers warmth and comfort, while operating cleaner and more efficiently than gas or wood burning stoves or central heating. Consumers are often amazed by how quickly these energy efficient appliances can heat up a room. With an initial investment of $900 to $2,000, homeowners can receive a $1,500 tax credit for their purchase and are expected to save as much as 75% on heating bills, particularly if the home is old. These stoves can be purchased from www.jamestownstoves.com.

One type of energy audit for homeowners is conducted by professionals. An auditor will do a room-by-room inspection to assess your potential home energy savings. Most audits cost around $200 and utility companies may pay part of the tab. Within the first six months of renovating your home, you will gain this money back anyway. Professionals do what is called a “calibrated blower test,” which attaches a fan to the outside door to lower indoor air pressure and reveal where leaks might be occurring. Another test called a “thermographic inspection” uses infrared cameras to identify where heat is escaping. Auditors will look at heating and cooling systems, insulation, appliances, electronics and other areas where you may need to energy monitor a bit more closely. Before hiring a contractor, you should assemble your last 12 months of energy bills, make a list of suspected problems, ensure the contractor is licensed and insured, and check the Better Business Bureau for the company’s client satisfaction rating.

If you’d rather not pay for a home energy audit, you may be able to do a lot of the work yourself. First, search the following areas for leaks: the wall/ceiling seam, the baseboards, windows, door frames, caulking, weather stripping, mail slots, doggie doors, fireplace dampers, window-mounted air conditioners, electrical outlets and pipes. If you are unsure if there are any leaks, close the doors, windows and fireplace flues; turn off the water heater and the furnace; then, turn on exhaust fans to pull air from the outside, which will make drafts more noticeable and will show you where home sealing is needed. Some people use smoke from an incense stick to monitor airflow. Most of a home’s energy consumption comes from heating and cooling, so this is a good place to start looking if you want to save money on your energy bills.

If you decide to complete major home improvements following your home energy audit, be sure you consider all avenues of financing. You can visit www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm to learn about government programs to encourage energy conservation. The Weatherization Assistance Program has helped more than 64 million Americans protect their homes against the elements. In some cases, your energy company may cover the cost of the audit. Private companies like Clean Power Finance have also assisted consumers in paying for improvements.

Installing a programmable thermostat is one of the best ways to maximize your savings. With an Energy Star programmable thermostat, you can store and set different temperatures for different times of the day. Why bother having the house at seventy degrees if you’re asleep under your warm comforter or away from the house at work for forty-five hours a week? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “You can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning our thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours.” For maximum efficiency, your thermostat should be located away from direct sunlight, drafts, doorways, skylights and windows. You can program up to six different settings to automatically switch on throughout the day to correlate with your schedule.

You will notice dramatic energy savings if you have a heating system that needs replacing. You may be wondering, “How do I know if it’s time to replace my furnace?” According to the Department of Energy, if your heat pump or air conditioner is over 10 years old, if your boiler or furnace is over 15 years old and some rooms are too hot or too cold, if frequent repairs are needed, if energy bills are increasing, if the home has humidity problems or there is no programmable thermostat, or if the system is noisy, then it’s time for this upgrade. An Energy Star unit can save 15-20% on your heating and cooling costs, not to mention you will also qualify for government incentives.

Energy savings doesn’t have to bankrupt you. In addition to the federal government’s tax incentives and rebate programs, you can also look up your state’s energy conservation incentives at www.dsireusa.org. If you purchase any energy efficient appliances with the Energy Star label, you will likely qualify for a rebate. Visit www.energystar.gov for a list of products that apply. The Department of Energy also provides a comprehensive section on obtaining financing or mortgaging an energy efficient home at www.energysavers.gov/financial/index.cfm/mytopic=70030.

This month, Miami-based Lennar announced its plans to offer the PowerSmartSM Home, which is a new energy efficient home specially designed to cut energy consumption by 40% by using energy efficient lighting, appliances, windows, heating and cooling systems. The homes come fully certified by the Department of Energy and with government Energy Star labels at no additional cost to consumers for the built-in upgrades. “Prospective buyers are eco-conscious and truly embrace energy-efficient products even in this current economic climate,” said Bill Burgess, president of Lennar Minnesota. These cost efficient homes are expected to be unveiled in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

Large builders aren’t the only ones investing in building homes that are energy efficient. TMS Architects and Bruss Construction are two small New Hampshire companies that are offering customizable house packages that include three different tiers of home energy savings and more than 400 choices that range from landscaping, solar energy, water power, Energy Star appliances, lighting, plumbing fixtures and LEED certification. The homes range from 1,600 square feet to 2,800 square feet and $300,000 to $600,000. This smaller size wastes no space, developers say, and includes high-quality amenities in the kitchens and bathrooms. “Materials are built to last and if you look at it financially, owners will save $8,400 a year in heating and electricity costs,” said Robert Carty of TMS Architects. James Bruss, owner of Bruss Construction, added, “This is the right product for the right time.”

Consumers have spoken. The energy efficient home is what they want. They’ve made it clear they want to invest in technology that will make their power bills go down and reduce their independence on utility companies. Buyers realize that it’s economical to buy a home that’s already well-stocked with these energy efficient features, rather than retrofit them later and builders see that there are distinct benefits to building this way too. Whether it’s a government rebate or a faster sell time, there’s money to be made with green homes.

There are many easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy at home. Installing a programmable thermostat will give you better control over your home’s temperature, without needing to remember to adjust the thermostat when you leave the house or go to sleep each night. You can change all your lights to Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use less power and last longer than conventional bulbs. You can air dry dishes or hang laundry outside, instead of using the dry cycle on your appliances. When you’re not using your lights, computer, monitor, TV, DVD player or power strip, turn off the devices for better savings. Lower your water heater thermostat down to 120°F and try taking shorter showers, rather than baths.

The kitchen is a good place to begin to save energy in your home. During the winter, you can turn your heat down lower as you cook, which will naturally heat up the home. In the summer, you will need ventilation systems removing the heat from the home. Before you fire up the stove, assess whether you can use the microwave, toaster oven or convection oven instead, as they consumer far less energy. Use lids when boiling water on the stovetop to speed up the cook time. Some families save money and energy by cooking larger batches of food (like soups, sauces, chili or stews) all at once to be frozen or refrigerated and easily reheated in the microwave later. To keep your refrigeration costs down, be sure you vacuum the energy coils at least once or twice a year. It’s also a good idea to let warm foods cool to room temperature before refrigerating them. Remember that heating water uses 25% of your energy bills, so dishwashing by hand may not be such a bad idea. Be sure to look for Energy Star appliances for your kitchen too.

You can find many ways to save energy in your home at the Federal Trade Commission’s website (www.ftc.com). In the attic, look for high value R-type insulation. Check the Energy Guide ratings for new furnaces and air conditioning units. In the kitchen, keep your Energy Star refrigerator away from appliances like stoves and dishwashers. Fill your dishwasher, but don’t overload it. Most water heaters are set at 140, but you can comfortably heat your water at 120 degrees. Invest in energy efficient lighting, such as compact fluorescent bulbs throughout your house. Lastly, you can look for low emission windows, plant shade trees and seal your door frames better. With a few basic changes, you’ll be saving money on your energy statements in no time at all.