So the economy is in the crapper and we’re all stressed out about what’s going to happen next. As many others are writing, one way to feel a bit in control is to cut back your spending. One particular favorite of mine is to find ways to pay my power company less. And hey, I work for the power company so it’s a little ironic. Of course my entire job is to figure out how to help people like you, and the business owners in your community, spend less money on electricity.

There are a ton of resources out there to tell you what to do - just do a Google search for “easy ways to save electricity” and you’ll get 536,000 results. Search for “easy ways to save energy” and that number jumps to 652,000.

But what do you do with all of that info? How do you decide which ones to implement and which are just a bit of bogus. Which have the best return on investment/effort and which are just another way to spend your money (which you’re trying to save).

So let me throw my current top 20 list at you*. These are my top 20 ways to save energy (electricity, natural gas, propane, oil, etc) while spending little or nothing this winter. Of course, using a clothesline and turning off your A/C are great options in summer, but not necessarily in winter. And, since we’re all a bit into food around here, several of them focus on saving in the kitchen.

1. Use your slow cooker. It uses significantly less power than simmering stews, roasts and soups on the stove or in the oven.

2. Reconsider your oven. Using the microwave or a toaster oven uses about 20% of the power that an oven does.

3. Put a lid on it. Need to use that stove (and who doesn’t)? Put a lid on the pan whenever you can, otherwise all that steam is just heating your house and not your food. And be sure to put the pan on the right sized burner (don’t put small pans on large burners, or vice versa).

4. Optimize your fridge/freezer. Keep your fridge at 38* F and your freezer at 10*F to optimize their energy usage.

5. Put your PC to sleep. We’re all computer users here (obviously) when you’re not using yours, put it to sleep and turn off the power strip. Better yet, use the free settings that came on your PC or Mac to have it go to sleep automatically. You’ll save upwards of 150 - 300 kWh per year depending on how many hours a day you use your computer.

6. Turn off the lights. Lighting accounts for 11% of the power usage in the average home. I know it’s cliche, but turn off lights you aren’t using and turn off your outside lights during the day. And when your current incandescent bulb burns out, replace it with a CFL. Look for a lower Kelvin temperature for warmer light, choose Energy Star rated bulbs to save more and look for “instant on” if you can’t stand the warm up time.

7. Let in the sun. Open the curtains on your south facing windows during the day (close the north facing ones) and close them at night. No reason not to take advantage of the heat Mother Nature gives you for free.

8. Seal out the wind. If you don’t have double pane windows, consider buying some heavy gauge (think 4 mil) plastic and putting it over the windows. You can also usually find window kits with plastic and tape at most hardware stores ($4-6 per window). It might seem low rent, but it will save you loads on your heating costs.

9. Turn it down. When you’re not home (or sleeping) turn your thermostat down to 55* F. If you usually keep it at 68 - 70, you’ll save almost 10% on your heating costs. Better yet, replace that old thermostat with a new programmable one. A basic unit will run you $25 and pay for itself in less than a year. Be sure to also check with your power company - most have a rebate program if you have electric or gas heat.

10. Put some caulk in it. Conduct your own energy audit. Take a burning stick of incense and use it to slowly check windows, doors, vents and exterior wall outlets for air leaks. Anytime the smoke sucks into, or blows away from, an opening you’ve got a leak. Buy yourself some tubes of caulk (about $7 each) and maybe a bit of weatherstripping and fill those gaps. For outlets and switches use foam insulation gaskets or make sure you buy the proper caulk - check with your hardware store.

11. Close the door. If you’re not using a room, close the door and turn off the heat to it (shut the vent or turn down the wall unit). According to the DOE, “by closing the vents to just one spare bedroom in a five-room house, you can instantly cut your heating bills by as much as 20 percent.”

12. Swap your showerhead. In addition to shortening your shower, you can save water (and energy to heat it) by switching to a low flow shower head. They typically use 50% less water than older heads. While you’re at it, check with your water utility to see if they’re giving them away (many of them are these days). Feeling really ambitious? Install low-flow aerators in your bathroom sinks to cut down on water for face washing and tooth brushing.

13. Wash your clothes in cold. Not only is it better for your clothing, but 90% of the energy a load of clothes accounts for is actually consumed by your water heater. Using cold water eliminates the heating demand, as well as keeping your colors from fading.

14. Unplug it. If you’re not using an appliance or a gadget, unplug it. Many of them draw power even when they’re not in use. It’s not really that hard to plug them back in later, is it?

15. Dry with air. Air drying isn’t just for your hair or your laundry, although it’s a good way to save there too, it should be an option on your dishwasher as well.

16. Using a fireplace? Turn down your heat to 55* F when you’re burning wood, otherwise all that air you’re heating up is just going up the chimney.

17. Check your attic insulation. If you’ve got less than 12 inches, it’s worth installing some more. Increasing from 3 to 12 inches can save you 20% on your heating costs for not that much money. Install the new insulation at right angles to the old (if both are bats) - and don’t worry about mixing types, different insulations generally play well together.

18. Wrap it up. Got an older water heater (think pre 1992)? If so, spend the $20 for an insulating wrap to reduce “standby” heat loss. Better yet, turn off your water heater at the breaker when you go on vacation. Sure you’ll have to wait a few hours for hot water when you get home, but think of the savings!

19. Buy smart. If you do have to replace an appliance, look for the Energy Star logo. Those models will save you energy (and money) in the long run. Then check with your utility to see if they offer a rebate for your purchase.

20. Ask for help. If you’re having trouble paying your utility bills, don’t wait until the shut-off notice comes to ask for help. Most utilities have low-income discounts and/or payment plans for unexpectedly high bills. There’s no shame in asking for their assistance - I guarantee they’d rather help you keep the power on, than have to shut you off.

* For the record, these don’t reflect anything more than common sense and my understanding.