Many people have become more interested in green living habits and are aware of its importance to the environment. What is sometimes missed, however, is that green living habits can significantly reduce the amount of energy one uses and thus help one to save money.  

By learning and implementing a few basic energy saving tips, a person can not only reduce their carbon footprint, but may be pleasantly surprised at the financial benefits of doing so.

The following are just a few of the ways every-day consumers can conserve more energy and save money in the process:

• Solar heating – In the course of a single hour, the earth receives enough solar energy for a full year's supply of power.  Yet few people actually harness solar energy for use in their daily lives as much as they could. Consider utilizing solar ovens, solar roofing, solar water heating, and solar pool heating. While solar heating options can be expensive to install, their use can save a lot of money in the long run, which can make the upfront costs well worth it.
• Energy efficient appliances – A good majority of the energy that is consumed in a home is used in the kitchen. Purchasing energy-efficient appliances can save a lot of money, as they will use less heat, less water, and less power. When shopping for new appliances, seek out the ones that bear a sticker that identifies them as energy efficient, such as Energy Star appliances.
• Hybrid or electric vehicles – Purchasing a vehicle that uses electric energy, or only uses limited amount of fuel, is one of the best choices a driver can make, to reduce toxic fuel emissions and to save money on the high prices of fuel.
• Unplug – Many do not realize that electrical appliances and other gadgets draw energy just by being plugged into an electrical socket - even when they are turned off. By making a conscious effort to unplug televisions, DVD players, computers, and stereo equipment when they are not in use, a consumer can realize an enormous reduction in their monthly energy costs.
• Switch to single lighting options – Chandeliers are beautiful, but each bulb that is lit requires extra energy and costs more money. Instead, choose lighting setups that only require single energy-efficient bulbs. This does not mean that one's lighting must be plain in appearance.  Exquisitely designed pendulum lighting fixtures make it possible to maintain the dramatic beauty of overhead lighting, while only using a single bulb to do so.
• Home size – If you are moving to a new home or renting an apartment, consider whether you might need a smaller home size.  Spare bedrooms are nice to have, as are extra bathrooms and wide living spaces. However, if these areas are not routinely used, you might consider whether you could live in a smaller space.  At the least, you can close of extra rooms, such as guest rooms, when they aren't in use, and turn off the heating or AC in those areas.  Every month, millions of consumers pay higher energy bills than necessary, as they heat or cool square footage in their homes that is rarely used.
• Change your home's insulation – Traditional insulation methods allow heavy carbon emissions to escape into the atmosphere. However, recent efforts to put a stop to this have led to research which discovered that wool insulation alternatives allow for fewer emissions to escape, and are also so effective, that they can reduce a home's energy bill and save the home owner several hundred dollars each year in energy costs.
• Composting toilets – By installing a waterless toilet and composting waste, an enormous savings can be had on one's monthly water bill. Waterless systems are completely sanitary, require little maintenance, and are easy to install. Most brands are available at home remodeling centers or can be purchased from online vendors.

It is imperative that everyone participates in the effort to conserve energy and reduce the harm that our daily waste has imposed on the environment. In cleaning up one's living habits, not only does it show a commitment to this worthy cause, but it saves money in the process as well.