Set your thermostat to 68 or lower in winter and 78 or higher in the summer when you are home, and turn it off when you away.  Install a programmable thermostat that turns off when you are at work and then turns back on again just before you return home this can save you up to 10% off your heating and cooling bills, according to Alliance to Save Energy.  Heating or cooling an empty house is like throwing money out the window!  Let the sun shine through your windows in the winter and close draperies at night.  You can also use drapes that block the sun out in the summer.

Use fans, including whole house fans, ceiling fans or portable fans in place of air conditioning whenever possible.  If your home does not have an attic exhaust fan you may want to consider installing one with a thermostat control.  This will remove excess heat from your attic and reduce cooling costs.

Be sure to have the right insulation for your home to keep heating and cooling costs down.  Fiber glass insulation does a superior job of saving energy and is produced from renewable materials such as sand and recycled glass.  It has a positive effect on the indoor environment by controlling heat loss and gain, reducing condensation and providing sound control.  Be sure to also caulk your windows and doors to keep heat and cool air inside not outside!

Replace incandescent bulbs with LED or compact fluorescent ones that use less power.  Use combined photocell/motion sensor controls for exterior lighting.

Use your dishwasher, washing machine and clothes dryer only when you have enough dirty stuff for a full load!  Check your water heater temperature and set it at 120 degrees and look at purchasing a tankless water heater that provides hot water on demand; heating water only when needed and saving natural gas!  Check for energy rebates from your local government and federal offers for washers, dryers, tankless water heaters, refrigerators and other home appliances.  Look for the Energy Star label when buying new appliances.  It means the products meet strict energy-efficiency standards.

Rebates are offered for refrigerators, air conditioners, pool pumps, windows and more.  Check with your utility provider and simply purchase a qualifying product, complete a rebate application and mail it in with your purchase receipt to receive your rebate check. 

Remember that you can avoid appliance use between noon and 7 pm to help reduce peak energy demand that can cause power emergencies.

Turn off computers and monitors when you are not using them.  Plug electronic equipment into power strips and turn the power strip off when the devices are not being used.  That's because even though the equipment is not being used, it is still using power.

With the water shortage in Southern California and recent rate increases it is also important to use water wisely.  You can reduce water consumption by taking shorter showers, installing low flush toilets and shower and faucet controls.  Watering lawns and gardens in the early morning and late evening will help to reduce evaperation.