Modern homes use a lot of energy. That translates into a larger carbon footprint and higher utility bills. Whether you want to reduce your energy consumption to cut expenses or be more eco-friendly, there are plenty of ways to get started.

1. Generate Your Own Power

If you really want to take charge of your home's power use, look at options for generating your own. You will want to go through each room, make a note of what gets plugged in, and then estimate your daily electric usage. This alone may be enough to make you change some habits concerning electronics. Then talk to renewable energy experts about the best options for where you live. With tax rebates and manufacturer incentives, more people are looking at alternative energy as a way to increase their home's efficiency and lower their dependence on outside power sources.

Solar is the most popular option. However, it isn't the only one. Residential wind turbines are becoming more affordable and are a good alternative to solar for people in areas with limited amounts of daylight. Either way, you will want to invest in a home battery backup system to store excess energy for times when it is not being produced.

2. Use Passive Energy

Nature provides a fair amount of energy that often just gets ignored. The sun offers an abundant source of heating, and light and wind can be used for cooling and drying. Even rainwater can be used to help limit your use of well or public water. It isn't tough to get started harnessing passive energy, either. These simple suggestions will help get you started and lower your home's reliance on power right away.

• Install a clothesline to let the sun and wind dry your laundry.

• Use window treatments to shade rooms or let sunlight in.

• Place UV film on windows to reduce passive heating.

• Open windows to increase airflow and cool interior spaces.

• Harvest rainwater for landscape and garden irrigation.

3. Adjust the Temperature

Heating and cooling the space inside your home uses more energy than any other household activity. So, if you want to impact energy use seriously, take steps to reduce heating and cooling costs. Adjusting the thermostat by about 10 degrees will make a big difference. According to the Department of Energy, doing that for eight hours every day can cut your energy bills by as much as 10%. Since it requires no significant changes to your home, there is no cost to you. Installing a programmable thermostat will make adjusting to the new temperature easier, but it isn't necessary.

4. Add Insulation

One of the best ways to truly increase the energy efficiency of a structure is to insulate it. Proper insulation can cut energy consumption by more than 10% — which can add up to a substantial amount. In most cases, it acts as a barrier by sealing gaps and cracks and trapping heat so it cannot move freely between different areas. Effectiveness is expressed as an R-value. The higher the R-value of a product, the more effective it is at preventing heat transmission.

Insulation comes in several different styles, and finding the right one for your application will increase its effectiveness. Many can be installed by even a novice DIYer. Once you have selected a type, measure your area to determine how much you need. Follow installation instructions to ensure it is done correctly and safely. If you are intimidated at the prospect of installing it, there are plenty of professionals who can do the work for you.

5. Leverage Automation

Smart home devices can also help lower energy use. Lights that can be turned on and off remotely, or that sense when you are nearby and react automatically, mean you don't have to leave a light on all day just in case you get home after dark. Appliances that detect patterns of use and adjust their setting accordingly help maximize efficiency even further. From simple swaps to major renovations, there are plenty of things you can do to make your home more energy-efficient.