Insulate Your Space
Have a professional detect any leaks in your home -- in your ducts, attic, crawl spaces, garage or between walls -- and then seal and insulate them to stop wasting energy.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
Just like you can tell a pot to make your coffee five minutes before you wake up, you can tell a programmable thermostat to increase the heat -- or cool things down -- 15 minutes before you arrive home. It’ll save you from running your heating or cooling unit all day -- or from blasting it when you first get home.
Buy Earth-friendly Furniture
Craigslist.com is a great place to find reused furniture. But if you're on the market for new, take a look at the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SustainableFurnishings.org) for a short list of green manufacturers, retailers and designers.
Landscape to Lower Your Bills
Talk to an expert about planting shade trees to reduce your AC bills. He or she will know what works with your environment (keeping in mind, for instance, susceptibility to local insects) and will place trees in an effective area where they have room to grow safely.
Find a Green Remodeler
For major renovations, check out Nari.org/Certify/Who/Index.asp to find an expert who will be as gung-ho about greening your home as you are. To earn the Green Certified Professionals (GCP) stamp of approval, members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) undergo additional training and testing on green procedures.