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1. Purchase Energy Star certified products.

If you’re looking for new household products, look for ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR. They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy. If your washing machine is more than 10 years old, replacing it with an Energy Star certified machine will save the average family $135 a year on their electric bill, and 6800 gallons of water per year. (The average family does 400 loads of laundry per year) For more info, visit www.energystar.gov

2. Replace your incandescent light bulbs

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, also known as CFLs, use approximately 75% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb, and last 10 times longer. A 27 watt compact fluorescent bulb gives off the same light as a standard 100 watt incandescent bulb, yet it will burn 10,000 hours longer! (Make sure you dispose of burned out or broken bulbs at hazardous waste collection center or retailer offering a collection program such as Home Depot, as they contain minute amounts of Mercury)

3. Maintain the right temperature in your refrigerator and freezer

Refrigerators can use up to 20 percent of total electricity in your home. To keep your power bills low, use only as much energy as is necessary. The refrigerator should be set between 38º F and 42º F. The freezer should be set between 0º F and 5º F. A 1 degree reduction in temperature is equal to an 8% reduction in energy consumption. Keeping your refrigerator and freezer as full as possible will also cut down on energy consumption.

4. Set Your Water Heater to 120ºF

You can reduce your water heating costs by simply lowering the thermostat setting on your water heater. For each 10ºF reduction in water temperature, you can save between 3%–5% in energy costs.

Although some manufacturers set water heater thermostats at 140ºF, most households usually only require them set at 120ºF. Water heated at 140ºF also poses a safety hazard—scalding.

Reducing your water temperature to 120ºF also slows mineral buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes. This helps your water heater last longer and operate at its maximum efficiency.

5. Wash clothes in cold water

With today's cold temperature detergents, most modern clothing cleans just as well in cold water. Wash in cold water on economy cycles and always have a full load. Keep in mind, 15 minutes of pre-soaking and 5 minutes of agitation get clothes cleaner than 15 minutes of agitation. About 90% of the energy used for washing clothes in a conventional top-load washer is for heating the water!

6. Save the running for your exercise program!

Don’t let water run when brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing hands. Not running the water when brushing teeth alone saves 1095 gallons a year! Below is a link to request a free energy and water savings kit that includes a low flow shower head and three faucet aerators. http://www.socalgas.com/residential/EE_kit_promo/

7. Use the dishwasher

Doing a full load in your dishwasher is far more efficient than washing the same number of dishes by hand. This is especially true if you have an Energy Star dishwasher which requires an average of 4 gallons of water per load, compared with the 24 gallons it takes to do them in the sink. Using one will save you 5,000 gallons of water, $40 in utility costs, and 230 hours of your time each year.

8. Scrape, don’t rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.

Rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher uses and extra 25 gallons of water per load. Today’s dishwashers are designed to get dishes clean without pre-rinsing. On average, dishwashers clean 250 loads of dishes per year for an annual water savings of 6,250 gallons of water.

9. Take 5 instead of 8

Try limiting your showers to 5 minutes. Not only will it save you time, but cutting your shower time from the average 8 minutes to 5 minutes will save 7200 gallons of water per year!

10. The double whammy (an excuse to go to the beach)

Put a half gallon plastic milk/juice container in the toilet. Not only will it keep a plastic bottle out of a landfill, it will also save a ton of water. The New York Times reported that a sealed half gallon container will save half a gallon on each flush. If you, like most Americans, flush 5 times daily, your family of 5 will save 4200 gallons of water per year! (Fill plastic container with sand, pebbles, or gravel before putting into the toilet)