I would think that by now most of us know that the ways that we currently produce most of our energy cannot continue into the long term. Supplies of fossil fuels like oil and coal are finite…and polluting. Of course, a lot of that pollution comes from the burning of those fossil fuels, which effects our air quality – electricity production is the leading cause of industrial air pollution in the US. But did you know that it can also affect the quality of our water? Pollution resulting from driving eventually settles to the ground and is washed into our rivers and oceans as urban runoff. Due to this, reducing energy use is essential for both improved air and water quality.

Another concept that was relatively new to me was that of “vampire power”. If it sounds insidious, that’s because it is. I’d heard that you should unplug your charging devices (for your cell phone, for example) as they draw energy whether anything is charging or not. But what I didn’t know is that some electronic devices actually use MOST of their power while inactive. VCRs and DVD player draw 93% of their power while inactive! A simple cure: power strips (You thought I was going to say to unplug it, didn’t you?) By plugging all non-essential items into one strip, you can disable the power at the source without having to unplug each one individually. Much easier!

Power strips will certainly help, but there are three key ways to really reduce your energy usage:

1. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Yes, you’ve heard this one before and you’re going to keep hearing it because lighting accounts for about 12 percent of home electricity use. Using CFLs will cut that by 75%, and save you money. Plus, once you’ve made the switch, you’re done! You can even determine your payback period at the Johnny Greenseed calculator.

2. Purchase green power or green power credits. Though you’ll likely pay a small premium for green power, these fees often go towards the development of additional renewable energy sources. Some energy providers, like Los Angeles’ LADWP, also give users free energy efficient products and services that help to offset additional costs. Purchasing credits, on the other hand, will help to “green up” the entire energy supply by adding renewable energy to the grid.

3. Pay attention to the heating and cooling of your home. This seems like a no-brainer, but incremental improvements can have a big effect. In the winter, each degree that the furnace is set above 68 degrees uses 3-5% more energy. Putting on a sweater is much cheaper.

So take a look at your home – where can you have the biggest impact on your energy usage? Simple changes can add up to big results.