Guest post by Gerard Mcdaniel

Everyone talks about being more energy efficient and how helpful it is for the environment. Save our trees! Clean up pollution! I think that preserving our environment is a worthwhile endeavor, I really do. But more importantly for me, energy efficiency is about saving money. Here in New York, the cost of living keeps going up but my paycheck does not. I need to find a way to trim the fat on some of my bills. There are many things you can do around the house to save money that don’t cost much. Switching to compact fluorescent bulbs is one easy way. You don’t have to do them all at once; just replace each old bulb that burns out with a compact fluorescent one. Also, you should insulate your windows. If you don’t have double-paned windows, put up plastic. Speaking of windows, use your blinds and curtains wisely. Open them during the day to let the sun (and its warmth) in. Close them at night to keep the heat in. Once I take care of a few of these easy ideas, I plan to search online for New York energy rates to see if I can make any further adjustments to my budget.