With winter fast approaching, there is no better time of year to ensure your home is as energy efficient as possible. Reducing the amount of energy your home uses and wastes is not only good for the environment. It can also help you significantly reduce your utility bills. There are many ways to make your entire property more efficient.

Instead of completely relying on your air conditioning and heating systems, you should take advantage of your windows. In the summer, you can open them up on hot days to instantly lower the temperature in your home. Throughout the winter, you should leave your curtains and blinds open whenever possible. This will allow rays from the sun to penetrate your home, naturally raising the temperature inside.

The type of light bulbs you use might also be a major source of energy waste. Instead of using traditional lightbulbs, you should switch all of the bulbs in your house to LED or halogen incandescent light. While the amount of energy you save will vary on a few factors, this could cut down on as much as 80% of the energy use attributed to your light bulbs.

You can also reduce the water temperature your home, especially if it is well above 130 degrees F. Instead, you can wrap the heater in a specially designed blanket which will keep the water warmer without using energy. By following these tips you can reduce the amount of energy you are using in your home. And your monthly bills should reflect this in no time.