When the utility bill arrives, does it cause you to flinch? Many of us do these days; however, there are ways to reduce utility bills that require very little monetary investment by comparison.

Making small improvements add up substantially over time and many of the below listed tips pay for themselves many times over.

Nowadays, low-flow shower heads allow the experience of a powerful shower while saving money. It would be possible to save approximately $250 per year with this action alone. Not only will you be cutting back on water usage, it will also save energy required to heat the water.

Replacing a 2.5 GPM (gallons per minute) shower head with a low-flow fixture that uses 1.75 GPM will reduce shower water usuage by 2,737 gallons annually.

While you are at it, install aerators on the kitchen and bathroom faucets. Together, these two actions may reduce fifty percent of water usage in the home.

Take water conservation another step further and install a low-flush toilet. The low-flush toilet uses less than two gallons of water per flush while a conventional toilet utilizes three and a half gallons.

Formula for calculating flow rates of a shower head or faucet:

• Turn the fixture on to its normal position;
• Place a container under the fixture and collect the water for 10 seconds;
• Measure the quantity of water in the container;
• To calculate the flow rate, multiply the amount of water by 6. Your answer will be the gallons per minute flow rate (ex. 0.25 gal x 6 = 1.5 GPM).

Compact florescent light bulbs cost more than regular bulbs; however, these bulbs can last up to ten times longer and use one-fourth of the energy as regular light bulbs. By replacing each bulb in the home, the savings add up to $30 per year, for each light bulb.

Many appliances continue to draw power even when they are not on such as televisions, cellular phone power cords, toasters, etc. Placing items that can be unplugged on a power cord saves time. Using power strips can save $200 or more per year.

Heating cold water demands quite a bit of energy. By turning down the water heater from 140ºF to 120ºF, it would be possible to save 6 to 10% in energy costs.

At higher temperatures, water heaters buildup mineral deposits at a much faster rate, therefore causing corrosion within the unit as well as water pipes. Reducing the temperature of the water will slow mineral buildup and corrosion in the water heater and pipes and make the appliance last longer.

Infiltration occurs when outside air enters a home through cracks, crevasses, openings and gaps. Home heating and cooling is the largest use of energy for the average consumer, so it would be wise to properly seal doors and windows with weatherproofing caulk and/or weather stripping which will greatly improve home energy-efficiency.

Installing a programmable thermostat allows flexibility over home temperatures without having to think about it. These appliances can store and repeat multiple daily settings, while allowing you to manually override if necessary without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program.

Programmable thermostats when utilized correctly can save approximately 10% of home heating and cooling bills.

Outdoor lights that are left on for extended periods waste a considerable amount of energy. Utilize light control devices on lighting such as motion detectors, occupancy sensors, dimmers, timers and photocells to provide light as needed outside the home.

Solar Film - Apply reflective or solar window film to windows to help reduce cooling costs in the summer.

Window Coverings - Use heavy draperies or mini-blinds to keep warm or cool air inside the home is an excellent way to save on heating and cooling bills.