New Year's Resolution #3 - Shrink Your Bills

3: Shrink your bills

By shrinking your bills, you can shrink your carbon footprint in the process. When people think of going green, they often think it takes solar panels or a hybrid car to make a difference.

The best place to start is by cutting your energy usage in your home:

• Remember your mom's advice and switch off the lights when you leave a room.
  
  
• Turn off your air conditioner when you leave the house and dial your heater down to 55 degrees at night.
  
  
• Install LED bulbs and low-flow showerheads.
  
  
• Try drying some of your clothes on the line and wait for the dishwasher or washing machine to be full before you run them.
  
  
• Turn off your power strips and/or set your home computer to revert to sleep mode when not in use.
  
  
• Water your yard less. Put in drought-tolerant landscaping if necessary.
  
  
• Give composting a try. Your garden will thank you.