Perform a home energy audit
Get an idea of your energy usage by logging on to the EPA’s household emissions calculator. The calculator will give you an estimate of your greenhouse gas emissions and help you find ways to save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
CFLs use 75 percent less energy, last longer than incandescent bulbs, produce 75 percent less heat and pay for themselves in just a few months. Since CFLs contain mercury, make sure you dispose of your burned out bulbs at the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 1621 S Portland.

Lower the thermostat on your water heater
Coupled with setting your water heater thermostat at 120 degrees, you can save a bundle by wrapping your water heater with a water heater blanket, especially if it is in an unheated area of your home. The blanket could save up to 10% on your water heating costs.

Shade your house
Plant trees that drop their leaves in the fall to block heat from your home in the summer, but allow light in during the winter. Chinese pistache, Shumard oak, lacebark elm and bald cypress trees grow well in Oklahoma City and provide a good canopy. Fabric sunscreens installed in windows can absorb about 70 percent of the air and solar heat before it enters your home.

Insulate, caulk and weather strip your house
Air leakage can account for 30 to 40 percent of your energy bill, so make sure to insulate your walls, floors and heating ducts.

Look for the Energy Star label
According to the EPA, the typical homeowner can save more than 30 percent on energy bills by purchasing products with the Energy Star label. These products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Wash clothes in cold water when possible
Most people in the appliance industry agree that cold water washes just as effectively as warm water.

Put on a sweater
In the winter, set thermostats at 65 degrees or lower and don those comfy sweaters and wooly socks. Turn down the thermostat to 60 degrees or lower when you go to bed and when you leave for work.

Unplug appliances that are not in use
According to the Energy Star program, 40 percent of the electricity that home electronics use is consumed while they are turned off. One easy way to make sure you're not wasting energy is to plug many appliances into one power strip; then you can turn it on and off, which is a little easier than unplugging and re-plugging everything individually.

Source: OGE and www.energystar.gov