Being green doesn't have to mean installing solar panels on your roof or running a farm out of your backyard. There are many simple changes that you can make to your home to increase its energy efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint. We detail a few ideas below: 

Change lighting 

One of the simplest ways to reduce your energy costs is to replace all of your incandescent lights with LED or CFL bulbs. They use a fraction of the energy of the traditional variety and last significantly longer. In addition, eco-friendly lights don't get as hot as other bulbs, keeping your home cooler and reducing the need of air conditioning. 

Clean HVAC filters

Regularly cleaning or replacing the filters in your heating and cooling system will keep the air flowing properly and prevent the machinery from working too hard. 

New appliances

An old washing machine, dryer and other out-of-date appliances are commonly the cause of high electricity bills. If any of these items are more than 10 years old, you should consider replacing them with more energy-efficient models that bear the "Energy Star" logo. 

Window treatments

Most of a home's energy is lost through windows, so they should be your first consideration when making changes to your house. Installing a new set of energy-efficient windows is one solution to prevent heat loss, but an expensive one. As an alternative, you could use heavy curtains and blinds to keep cold air out of the house at night. 

If you have any future plans to improve the energy efficiency of your home, be sure to schedule a home inspection first.