With climate change on the rise and electric bills not far behind, there’s no better time than right now to start making your home more energy efficient. This might sound like a complicated project, but you’d be surprised how far a few small steps can go.

1. Check the Seals

The very first thing you should do is to make sure your home is sealed tight as a drum. A crack here or a gap there where air can get in or out can seriously thwart your energy-saving efforts.

2. Switch to High-Efficiency Water Heaters

Install a high efficiency water heater in home to drastically reduce your energy usage and bills. Water heaters can account for up to 25 percent of the average person’s electric bill.

3. Switch to a Programmable Thermostat

Once you’ve switched out the heater, it’s time to replace the thermostat with a programmable thermostat. Simple switching to one of these can save you about 10 percent on your heating and cooling costs.

4. Insulate, Insulate, Insulate…

It’s estimated that about half of all homes in the U.S. are under-insulated, and as you may already know, having a properly insulated home is one of the best ways to ensure you keep your energy costs down. Reassess your home’s insulation and make sure it’s more than ample.

5. Get an Energy Audit

When in doubt, you can always get a professional home energy efficiency audit. An audit is very useful if you don’t know where your energy consumption problems reside.