Knowledge is power! Have an energy audit done in your home by a certified professional. This will give you much needed insight into the biggest sources of energy loss in your home. Once you have this information, you’ll know where to focus your weatherization goals. And don’t be afraid of the cost of such an assessment, many local utilities perform this audit at no additional cost to their customers or use a home performance contractor for the service. Find out about incentives to help you with this cost at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.

Use energy assessment tools to help you know more about your home and the average energy usage in your area. Energy Star is a government program that helps individuals and business identify and implement energy efficient products and practices. The Energy Star Home Energy Yardstick can help home owners asses their energy usage in just a few minutes. There are even fun sites like Dropoly that make energy saving into a game with real world applications.

Seal up your drafty house. Poorly sealed homes can let 20% or more of their heating and cooling costs go draining through cracks through windows or attics. Install high-efficiency windows and use caulking around joints to cut down on drafts.

Energy leaks aren’t limited to windows and doorways. Insulation is a key part of increasing your home’s efficiency. If you’re a fan of home improvement projects, there are DIY tips for adding insulation to attics and basements. Otherwise, a skilled contractor will be able to both assess your needs and complete the project.

A low cost tip: Put old Styrofoam packing materials or containers in the attic to act as insulation.

When adding insulation, don’t forget about protecting pipes and sealing ducts. These small heat or cooling losses can quickly add up on your utility bill.

Use natural breezes to help cool your home. Install storm windows, screen doors, window screens and window shades to give you more control over the flow of air and light in and out of your home—without worrying about pests invading your living space. Keep window shades open on winter days to let in sunlight and closed on summer days to maintain cool interior temperatures.

Use energy monitoring tools such as programmable thermostats, a smart meter, or energy management systems. These tools can help you keep the temperature in your home in sync with your daily activities. If no one is home during the day, it doesn’t make sense to heat or cool empty rooms. Set the thermostat to kick in 30 minutes before you get home so you walk into a comfortable setting without having wasted a day’s worth of energy. There are even systems you can access remotely in case your schedule changes or to accommodate pets or guests.

Low cost tip: Use common sense. While indoors dress warmly in winter with sweaters and socks and in summer take cooler showers to reduce the need for your home to do the work of regulating your body temperature.

Fix leaks – one leaking faucet can waste 3 gallons of water a day! It’s usually a pretty simple job to tighten seals or replace old or worn-out hardware. For bigger jobs you might need to call in a plumber but see what you can tackle on your own. Don’t let a leaking faucet drain money out of your wallet.

Upgrade your water heater. Energy Star, tankless, and solar water heaters are all options that can save you anywhere from 7-100% on your water heating bills. The savings you realize will often pay for the upfront costs of the investment in as little as a few years and some Energy Star labeled models qualify for a tax credit.

Low cost tip: Set your water heater to 120° F. Most are automatically set at 140 ° F and those 20 degrees won’t be missed in daily use, but you’ll be happy to save 10% on heating costs.

Install a greywater system – Greywater is any household waste water other than from the toilet, kitchen garbage disposal, or water used to wash soiled diapers. This water—which would normally be a pollutant for rivers, streams or septic systems—can be beneficially reused for lawn irrigation. Explore whether a greywater recycling system is right for your home and region to see if you can reduce your need for freshwater for outdoor use.

Install high-efficiency lighting – this one likely isn’t news to anyone, but many homes still haven’t made the switch to high-efficiency lighting. The cost for these light bulbs (including CFLs, LEDs, and halogens) has come down significantly over the last few years and recent technology advances may even lead to a light bulb that doesn’t need to be changed for a decade or more.

Low cost tip: use strategic lighting to brighten the area where you’re working or reading rather than trying to light an entire room.

Find out more. The LEED program is a voluntary system of metrics that grades a building’s green design. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and rates buildings—including homes—on a range of categories including water efficiency and conservation, sustainable building materials, indoor environmental quality and occupant health. Home owners or builders can work with a certified LEED for Homes Green Rater on home improvement or new construction projects. Additionally, there are steps individuals can take to meet high LEED standards on their own without filing for certification. Find out more about LEED for Homes with their Green Home Guide.