SGM's e2 Team wants to help you save energy as often as possible by providing the following tips:

1. Turn off anything not in use: lights, TVs, computers, etc.
2. Check the furnace or air conditioner (AC) filter each month and clean or replace it as needed.
3. During hot summer months, keep the window coverings closed on the south, east and west windows. In the winter, leave the window coverings open to let the sun and heat in.
4. Keep the glass fireplace doors closed to help stop the heat from being lost up the chimney.
5. Activate the "sleep" features on computers and office equipment that power down when not in use, which will cut energy costs and improve longevity.
6. In summer, use fans whenever possible instead of AC and ventilate this way at night - when practical. Using fans to supplement AC allows you to raise the thermostat temperature, using less energy.
7. About 15% of an average home energy bill goes to heating water. To save hot water, take five-minute showers instead of baths. Do only full loads when using the clothes washer or dishwasher. Use cold water for laundry and save up to $63 a year - detergents formulated for cold water get clothes just as clean.
8. Lower the temperature on your water heater. It should be set at "warm", so that a thermometer held under running water reads no more than 120 degrees.
9. Install low-flow showerheads and sink aerators to reduce hot water use. 
10. Install 1.6 gallon per flush (gpf) or less toilets to reduce water use.
11. A water tank insulation wrap costs about $20 and helps hold the heat inside. Add pre-cut pipe insulation to exposed pipes going into your water heater - it is cheap and easy to install. If you're starting with an uninsulated tank, the energy savings should pay for the improvements in just a few months.
12. Seal and weatherstrip your windows and doors to ensure that you're not wasting energy on heat or air conditioning that escapes through leaks to the outdoors.
13. Duct tape works well on lots of things, but it often fails when used on ductwork! Use mastic (a gooey substance applied with a paintbrush) to seal all exposed ductwork joints in areas such as the attic, crawlspace or basement. Insulate ducts to improve your heating system's efficiency and your own comfort.
14. Storm windows can reduce heat loss by single-paned windows by 25-50% during the winter. As an alternative, you can improve your windows temporarily with plastic sheeting installed on the inside.
15. When buying new products, look for the ENERGY STAR® label, found on more than 40 different products such as TVs, furnaces, cell phones, refrigerators, air conditioners and more.
16. Incandescent light bulbs are outdated; 95% of the energy used goes to heating the bulb, adding unwanted heat to your home in the summer. Replace your five most used light bulbs with ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent bulbs to save $60 each year in energy costs. These light bulbs use 2/3 less energy and last up to 10 times longer. Use dimmers, timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.
17. Consider safer, more efficient ENERGY STAR torchiere lamps rather than halogen torchieres, which can cause fires. Halogen bulbs are expensive to use.