Use these simple tips to save money on your utility costs.

Put aerator screens on your water faucets. Install low-flow shower heads and toilet tanks
You may already have aerator screens on your faucets, but it's worth it for you to check and make sure or see if your current screens need to be replaced. Aerators restrict the flow of water, compressing it into a higher-pressure discharge than regular faucets and can save you 25-40% on the hot and cold water running out of your faucet.

Install low-flow shower heads as well and reduce your home water consumption by as much as 50%. You can reduce your energy cost of heating the water by as much as 50% as well. Finally, replace your toilet with an EPA WaterSense-labeled model (cost $100-300) that uses only 1.3 gallons of water per flush compared to 3.5 gallons for a regular toilet. Switching toilets can save you up to 4,000 gallons of water per year.

Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs and LED lighting
Compact fluorescent bulbs use two-thirds less energy than standard light bulbs. Did you know that replacing one regular light bulb with a fluorescent bulb would save you $30 in energy costs over the lifetime of the bulb? In addition, fluorescent bulbs generate 70 percent less heat which can actually reduce the costs of cooling your home. Finally, for those who are environmentally conscious, one bulb will save you 126 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. This translates to around 170 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions on average.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) Lamps are even more energy efficient than compact fluorescent bulbs. LED's use 6% of the energy to light a traditional light bulb and can last an amazing 15 years or more. Some even claim to last up to 100 years! There are some downsides to using LED's. The main one is that they are more expensive than compact fluorescent bulbs, but it's important to note that the monthly costs of operating an LED bulb is 3-4 cents per month while only translates to 36-48 cents per year! Some people complain that the lighting has a bluish tint that can make lighting a room difficult. It's true that the bluish tint has been a problem for LED's, but be on the lookout for newer LED's coming out that are offering a warmer tint color.

Insulate, Insulate Insulate!
Not only will extra insulation keep you more comfortable during the extreme summer heat or the frigid winter, you will also save a lot of money by insulating your home properly. Don't forget to insulate the entry into your attic, your water heater, water pipes and even your garage doors to control the temperature in the garage area. Best of all, insulation is relatively cheap and it save you so much more throughout the year then the initial cost of adding the extra insulation in the first place.

Make simple changes to your water heater to save energy
One of the easiest changes you can make is to insulate your water heater by installing a water heater blanket. Heating bills can be reduced by as much as 9%. Adjusting the temperature (especially if there are not many people in the household) can save additional energy or install a timer so that your water heater will automatically shut off during times when hot water is not needed (like night time). Finally, when purchasing a water heater, consider a tankless water heater. A tankless water heater will only produce hot water when it�s asked for which can produce big savings, especially when you consider a conventional water heater runs 24/7 to keep water hot at all times.

Add weather stripping to all doors and windows
Those extra gaps below your doors can be costing you a lot of money. Feel all doors and windows to check for drafts. Besides weather stripping, caulking is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to fix these leaks. Caulk forms a flexible seal for gaps less than one-quarter inch wide.

Use a programmable thermostat
Using a programmable thermostat can save you 20% on your heating and air conditioning costs. Prices range from $20 for a basic Energy Star component to $100 for a top-of-the-line model. If your schedule keeps you away from home more often, it may be worth it to invest in a model that can keep tabs on your schedule and has the ability to switch between heating and cooling on its own. This feature may help you save even more on your energy bill.

Use ceiling fans more often
Ceiling fans use only 60 watts of energy when running (compared to the 3,500 watts of energy an air conditioning unit). Ceiling fans can not only cool your home up to an additional 7 degrees in the summer, but they can also help you keep warmer in the winter. Change the direction your fan runs (usually to clockwise) to force the warmer air near at the top of the room down to the base of the room. Look for Energy Star ceiling fans that are more energy efficient (up to 50%) and check the length of a fan's blades before making your purchase. Larger rooms will require longer blades to work most effectively. In addition, choosing a fan with at least 5-6 blades will move more air than fans with only 4 blades.

Buy energy-efficient appliances
The hot water heater, refrigerator and heater are the appliances that use up the most energy in the home. Make sure these (and all) appliances are well maintained and in good working order. Purchase energy- efficient appliances when possible, clean your refrigerator coils twice and year and remember to insulate your water heater too.

Use a power strip and unplug appliances, cell phone chargers, etc when you are not using them
40% of the total energy used to run home electronics are used when the appliances are not turned on. One easy way to stop this "phantom" power usage is by using a power strip that can be switched off when appliances are not in use. Think of using them for your TV, DVD player, stereo and gaming system. A new item that can claims to reduce energy consumption in your household an additional 25-40% is the Green Switch.The Green Switch was originally designed for hotels and it was found to be so useful in eliminating phantom power usage that it's now being marketed for residential homes. The Green Switch will cost more than a power strip up front with payback ranging in 1-2 years, but customer's who have it seem to be very happy with the savings.

Install an energy-efficient window film
Energy-efficient window films (like Gila film products) work by blocking infrared radiation from passing through the window glass. You will save on your heating bills in winter because heat from your home will not radiate outside. In the summer months you will save on your cooling bill because the window film will block some of the heat coming in from the outside. Energy-efficient window films will be most effective when used in homes that get a lot of direct sunlight throughout the day. You can also save money buy installing window film yourself. You can find deals on energy-efficient window film on Amazon.com and Ebay.com as well.

Shop around for utility providers
This applies to all utility providers including gas, electric, water, cable, home phone, cell phone, etc. Even if you've been using the same company for many years, don't expect them to be giving you the lowest price around. That same company may even be charging their new customers less than they are charging you! Contact other companies to see if you will be saving if you change providers. Many companies will even give you gift cards and other extra perks by making a change.

Consider ditching your home phone
Having a cell phone as your only phone is now becoming a very popular option, especially if you can get a great cell phone plan that gives you enough minutes for suit you needs and provide you with long distance if you need it. Another option if you don't want to use your cell as your only phone is to use your broadband connection with VoIP. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) enables home phone calls to be made over the Internet. With VoIP your voice is converted into a digital signal and transmitted just like any other kind of data. You can see a listing of VoIP providers on VoipReview.org

Other Useful Links
Billshrink.com - Analyze your monthly cell phone bill to see if you can save money with a different plan.