Within recent years, humans seem to be increasingly more concerned with reducing their carbon footprint and lowering their environmental impact. Coupled with the fact that an emphasis on increasing sustainable practices is spreading around the globe, it's no surprise that many people are taking a closer look at what they are doing within the walls of their own home and researching ways - from simple to elaborate - to lower their energy output, while simultaneously lowering their bills. 

Unplug and Turn Off

Perhaps the easiest action you can take to lower your energy consumption is turning off lights and unplugging items that aren't in use. When you leave a room and don't intend to return in the immediate future, shut the lights off as you leave. Teaching children this rule is essential, as they are often the mail culprits for leaving the lights on when they leave a room. Additionally, remove cords from outlets when they are not being used. A simple walk through your home may reveal a surprising number of electrical plugs that are connected unnecessarily; in fact, the average home contains roughly 40 products that are plugged in, many that don't need to have constant power. Items like cell phone chargers, lamps and infrequently used televisions are great candidates to watch for and unplug when possible. 

Replace Lights

Another simple fix to reduce your energy consumption is to change the bulbs in your light fixtures. Traditional incandescent bulbs are no longer manufactured, as research determined that they use a lot of energy to produce light and that the majority of that energy is ultimately wasted. Swap out your traditional bulbs with bulbs that have an Energy Star rating, and seek lower energy options like LED or CFL lights. While these lights may be more expensive at the onset, they will save you money over time. 

Run Full Loads

It may seem obvious, but a large waste of energy can come from running smaller or partial loads of laundry or dishes in a dishwasher. While it may seem convenient to wash those few dishes or a quick load of laundry before you have a complete load, you are actually wasting more energy than if you would wait for a large load to be ready. Contrary to popular belief, running the dishwasher and washing machine on small-load settings uses almost the same amount of water and energy as a full load. If it's not imperative to wash those few clothes or that one set of dishes right away, wait. 

Lower Your Heat

Lowering the setting on your thermostat can also help reduce your energy consumption and your electric bill. Each one degree drop in temperature on your thermostat can reduce your energy bill by one to three percent. Similarly, you can lower your usage and your cost by lowering the thermostat at night, which has also been shown to help you sleep better. If consistently remembering to adjust the thermostat isn't realistic for you, consider investing in a programmable thermostat, which will do the work for you; most modern programmable thermostats can also be controlled by your smartphones or other device. You can also lower the heat setting on your water heater. Every ten degree reduction on your water heater can save 3-5% on your heating bill each month. 

Switch to Renewable Energy

If you have the means to invest in a more significant means of reducing your energy consumption, you may want to install a renewable energy system such as solar panels or geothermal heating. Solar panels harvest and store energy from the sun and convert it into energy that can be used for heat and electricity. Solar panels can be installed on the roof of your home, which makes them relatively accessible to anyone. However, installing solar energy can be costly, so if you do decide to go solar, be sure to spend some time gathering various estimates from providers. Geothermal heating systems utilize the natural heat of the Earth. Liquid is pumped through tubing in the ground; that liquid absorbs the heat from the Earth and then is pumped back into the home where an exchanger uses the heat from the liquid to heat the home. Also somewhat cost prohibitive, geothermal requires a serious upfront investment, but will pay off in significant reduced energy costs. You can also save money by investigating grants and refunds that exist for the installation of these systems. 

Paring back the amount of energy you produce can be both better for the planet and your wallet, and while it may seem daunting at first, there are small steps you can take to start the process that will make a notable difference. You may be surprised at what you see in terms of savings starting to build and the energy consumption starting to dwindle.