Who doesn't want to save a little money? There are plenty of opportunities to save right there in your own home. The trick is knowing where to look for them.

Home Improvement Tips for Energy Efficiency

The smallest home improvement changes can make a huge difference in the bottom line of your utility bills. Here are a few places to start:

• Opt for a home energy audit. Bring in a professional auditor to help you find the places where home improvement is needed the most. Many utility companies will offer this service for free.
• Unplug it! Simply unplugging appliances when not in use is a completely free way to enhance your energy efficiency. Even when appliances are not on, they are sapping electricity. Want proof? Turn off your television, then put your ear next to it. Hear that hum? That's power that you don't need to be using. Unplug it and cut off the energy drain.
• Check for drafts. Here's a nice trick that actually smells great, too--light a stick of incense and hold it up to each window in your home. Watch where the smoke goes. If it drifts lazily upward, you don't have a draft. If it blows away from the window, it's time to caulk around the outside of the window, especially where the windowsill meets the siding.
• Wrap it up. Do you have an old water heater? Wrap it in an insulating blanket and watch your utility bills drop. The blanket keeps the heat inside and helps your water heater work more efficiently.
• Check the fireplace. Use the incense trick in your fireplace to check the damper. Many homes lose a great deal of energy through the fireplace. If you find drafts, it's time to call a chimney sweep.
• Replace weatherstripping. The weatherstripping around doors can deteriorate quickly. If it begins to look cracked or faded, it's time to refresh it. Weatherstripping is often inexpensive, easy to apply, and can be found at any home improvement store.
• Insulate switches and plugs. Those little plastic covers are big culprits when it comes to drafts. Insulation already cut to fit the standard switches and plugs can be found at home improvement centers for pennies apiece, but they can save big change on your energy bill.

Look for ways to decrease your heating and cooling bills throughout the year. You might find that the lower your bills drop, the more enthusiastic you will be to find creative ways to save even more.