Start Saving Energy Today, Top 10 Quick Tips - Big Y® World Class Market®

Replace standard bulbs with compact fluorescent. You can achieve the same level of brightness with a 17-watt energy efficient fluorescent light bulb as you can with a standard 60-watt light bulb. Yet the lower wattage bulb uses less energy (about 72% less) than its incandescent counterpart and lasts 10 times longer.
Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. These two simple steps may reduce your hot water consumption by half.
Turn off your computer, laser printer and other peripherals. For each hour that you turn them off, you will save .14 to .35 kilowatt-hours of electricity, which can add up to an incredible $80 to $200 per year.
Seal and insulate ducts. Ducts running through unconditioned spaces (attics, crawl spaces, and garages) that are not properly sealed and insulated can waste 25% of the energy used to cool and heat your home. Seal the joints with non-hardening sealant and insulate the ducts to an R-value of 6 for year-round energy savings.
Install a programmable thermostat to change the set point when you are at work or asleep. You will save about 3-4% of your cooling bill and 2% of your heating bill for each degree.
Set your air conditioner to 85-degrees F when on vacation. In moderate climates, unless there are pets in the house, turn the system completely off.
Wash and rinse your clothes in cold water, and take advantage of the sun's free energy to do your drying. Modern detergents work as well in cold water as in hot or warm, and your clothes will last longer. Wash full loads only. For each load of laundry that you dry on a clothesline, you save $0.20-0.40 in energy costs. If you were to dry four loads of laundry per week year round on a clothes line, you would not only save $40 to $80, but reduce the need to iron and give your clothes that wonderful fresh-air smell.
Install ceiling fans over beds and in dining and living rooms. A ceiling fans can reduce air conditioning costs by creating a "wind chill" effect. Set your thermostat as high as 80 degrees F, but it will feel more like 76 degrees F directly under the fan. Note, however, that you won't realize any savings unless you set the air-conditioner thermostat higher.
During the height of the cooling season, cook outdoors or with a microwave. Every bit of heat you create in the kitchen has to be removed by your hard-working cooling system.
Install a drip irrigation system. A well-maintained lawn keeps your home's surroundings cooler - up to 40 degrees cooler than bare earth and as much as 70 degrees cooler than the street. By applying water only when and where it is needed, a drip irrigation system can achieve water savings of up to 60%.