Best Utility Bill Saving Tips. Pay Lower Bills.

Below are the best energy saving tips from numerous leading publications that will help you save on your utility  bills.

Also, with the cold winter approaching, find ways to save on heating bills from the US Department of  Energy. Continue.

And for the holidays, use LED Christmas Lights, which use about 90% less energy. Read more.

-Many utility companies offer a free home energy audit, or you can perform one yourself. More.

-Install a programmable thermostat to save about $200 per year.

-Unplug your flat panel TV when not in use. It can cost about $20 per month to watch a flat panel TV. Continue.

-Turn off your computer, or put it into sleep mode/standby, when not is use to save up to $75 per year on your utility bills. Continue.

-Use the cold-water wash cycle on your washing machine and save about $60 a year.

-Insulate, fill and seal cracks and gaps in your ducts and house. This can help lower utility bills and reduce energy costs by 30 percent.

-Lower the temperature on your water heater to about to 120 degrees from 130 and also insulate hot water pipes to lower your energy bills by about 5 percent.

-Weather-strip old doors, windows, and other areas. It's the surest way to seal and close the gaps around openings, reducing cooling and heating costs you pay by 15 to 30 percent.

-Install a high-efficiency shower head in your bathroom. It will lower hot water use by up to 50 percent.

-Use lights with sensors or automatic timers so that fixtures stay off during the day.

-Upgrade to a low-flow toilet and you will save up to 4,000 gallons per year in water and lower your water bills.

-Add adequate insulation. An estimated 85 percent of older houses do not have enough insulation.  Properly sealing and insulating your house can lower your cooling and heating bills by 10 percent.

-Contact a professional energy auditor. They will use a blower door as well as infrared photography to pinpoint where your home is leaking electricity and energy. Some utilities provide free audits.

-Plug your electronics into a full power strip so that you can turn them all off at once.

-Keep your car tires fully inflated. In tests, a Toyota Camry dropped 1.3 mpg in efficiency when the tires were deflated by 10 psi.

-String LED lights around your home this holiday season. They will last longer. Our tests have shown that they can save up to $15 per holiday season.

-See if your utility company offers rebates to customers who replace old, inefficient appliances with energy-efficient models. Some states will hold periodic "tax holidays" for purchases of energy-efficient appliances.

-Clean or replace your furnace filters each month during the heating season. Dirty or clogged filters will force the heating blower to work longer, raising your utility bills.

-Stop pre-rinsing your dishes. Our tests have found that it is not, and you can save up to 6,500 gallons of water per year.

Find other ways to help save energy that will lower your utility bills. More.