Probably the easiest Do-It-Yourself idea is in changing your current light bulbs to more energy efficient ones. Ordinary incandescent bulbs use quite a bit of wattage, but by switching to a more energy efficient bulb, you’ll get the same amount of light and use less wattage. A typical incandescent bulb uses 40 to 60 watts, where the energy savers only use 10 to 15 watts.

Doors and windows are another area where people tend to lose money. Leaks around windows and drafts around doors cause people to lose hundreds of dollars every year. Replacing the caulking around your windows will help in all seasons. And with your doors, add a door sweep to the bottom to keep out drafts. Also, check the hinged side of the doors to make sure they’re well sealed. This is one of the biggest areas for draft problems.

Another area of the home that can cause drafts is through your electrical sockets. You can buy a package of socket insulators for next to nothing. These insulators are made from a flexible foam material, and will keep drafts out of your home. They look exactly like the socket cover and fit snuggly behind them. They only take a couple minutes to install, and will save you a lot of money in the long run.

A leaky faucet can cause your energy bills to skyrocket. Most can be easily fixed simply by tightening a few loose nuts. However, you might have to replace the rubber seals, as they can become hard and crack. You’ll also want to check the pipes under your sinks to make sure that you’re not losing water there. A few turns of the wrench can save you a ton of money.

Not all home improvement projects require your entire weekend to finish. A few simple tweaks around your home will improve your home’s worth, and will save you a lot of money on your energy bills. And, when you’re done, you can tell the world that you’ve done your part to save the planet.