Saving energy is a good idea for many reasons. It will save you money, it will help out the environment, and it's just the right thing to do.

You don't have to be intimidated by the idea of energy conservation. No one is asking you to stop shaving or spend your winters shivering under a blanket.

Here is a list of some easy things you can do to cut down on your reliance on your local utility company:

1. Lower the temperature on your water heater. Most water heaters come from the factory with a setting of around 140 F. Most homes will only need a temperature of about 120F.

For every 10degree Fahrenheit you turn down the temperature on your water heater you can save up to 5% on your utility bill, and you won't even notice the difference.

2. Unplug any unused electronics and appliances. Even when they're turned off, if they are still plugged in, they are using almost as much energy as they would use if they were actually turned on - about 90%.

So, if you're not going to use them at least daily, unplug them.

3. Weather proofs your house. Make sure you have adequate insulation. Replace old windows, or if you can't afford to replace them add a window insulation kit.

Caulk and weather strip around windows and doors.

4. Make sure your furnace is running right. Tune it up and replace filters every month all winter long.

5. Make your own electricity. While it won't work for everyone, many homeowners can build their own wind turbine and produce up to half of the electricity their home needs.

It only costs a few hundred dollars but the savings can be enormous.

Start using these energy conservation ideas. As you can see, they are all simple to do but will pay off big by providing much smaller utility bills.