There are a multitude of lists out there to help you save money and cut environmental costs at the same time. Most of these require the assistance of energy-saving devices or objects, such as a CFL bulb or canvas shopping bag, which you will have to go out and buy if you don’t already have them. However, this list is unique in that it consists of methods to save on utility costs at home without spending a single dime.

In addition, the items on this list aren’t necessarily the ones you’ve heard a dozen times. We all know by now that we should switch off lights and turn off water faucets when they’re not in use. Here are 20 other things that may not always cross your mind, helping you budget and conserve the earth’s natural resources.

1. Unplug appliances when they’re not being used. Even when they’re off, did you know that appliances continue to use energy? Some of the biggest wasters are the computer and audio system.
2. When your appliances are plugged in, don’t leave them on standby. Even on standby mode, devices can still use about 40% of their energy. Best to follow tip #1 above and turn them off completely.
3. Cover your pots while cooking. By capturing more heat, covered pots save energy while you cook. Pressure cookers and steamers save around 70%.
4. Turn down your heater to 60 when you leave the house during a cold winter. Turn it off completely if you have milder winters that don’t put your pipes at risk for doing so. Heating costs and cooling account for the majority of energy use at home.
5. Invite friends often. On cold nights, each person is like a walking heater. This is a fun way to keep the house warm.
6. Wear a sweater or two. This way, you can lower your heat and save.
7. Program your thermostat. Did you know that moving your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year?
8. Keep cooling appliances healthy and productive by moving heat-generating lights away from them.
9. Reduce your water heater temperature to 120° F to ensure you’re only cooling water that’s too hot to use.
10. Move your fridge and freezer away from the cooker or boiler. Placing them on their own uses less energy.
11. Defrost old refrigerators and freezers regularly.
12. Run the dishwasher in the late afternoon or early morning. During the hottest part of the day, it requires more energy to run.
13. Follow tip #9 above when it comes to your clothes dryer.
14. Better yet, disregard tip #9 and forego the dryer altogether. Hang-drying on a clothes line saves a ton of energy and 700 pounds of carbon dioxide.
15. Hold off on washing clothes until you have a full load.
16. When you do wash your clothes, use cold water. Heating water requires energy.
17. Shower instead of bathing; it takes four times less energy.
18. Take shorter showers.
19. Wrap your water heater with a blanket to help it run more efficiently.
20. Keep yourself educated about energy resources and conservation by getting free information on the web from resources such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

Other helpful lists:

• The Butterfly Effect and the Environment: How Tiny Actions Can Save the World
• Top 50 Things To Do To Stop Global Warming

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