Energy is the news a lot lately and for good reason. Once the world economy starts to grow again, the demand for energy is only going to go up. As such, there are many reasons to start to think more seriously about energy conservative news. As demand increases faster than supply, we can expect rising energy costs. In addition, there is growing concern about the effects of our energy use on the environment. For these and other reasons, there is great incentive to decrease our energy use.

Fortunately, there are several easy and comparatively inexpensive steps most people can take to reduce their energy use, five of which will be discussed in this article as follows:

Water Heater Blankets

Insulated water heater covers, known as water heater blankets, provide an effective and simple of conserving energy. Specially fit covers protect and insulate the heater. As a result, less energy is required to heat water to the preferred temperature. Furthermore, these blankets also help the water heater to maintain a more constant water temperature so that frequent energy-burning warm-ups are not required.

It couldn’t be simpler. By simply covering your water heater, a household can realize significant energy and cost savings. Since water heaters are one of the most energy-intensive appliances in any home, it’s a good idea to target them for increased conservation whenever possible. The bet way to do that is with water heater blankets.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Once considered only for office and large building settings due to their size, fluorescent light have become much more commonplace in the typical home. Relatively recent advances in technology have resulted in the mass production of compact fluorescent light bulbs, making them available to the average consumer at affordable prices.

From an energy conservation standpoint, compact fluorescent bulbs provide an appealing alternative to the usual incandescent bulb we often use. Fluorescent bulbs not only last longer than their traditional counterparts, they also use much less energy. Depending on its rating, every bulb is likely to result in a cost savings of thirty to sixty dollars during its lifespan. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are slightly more expensive (at this point) than their incandescent counterparts, but this added cost will be more than compensated for by the savings you will realize.

A major drawback to the compact fluorescent light bulb is dealing with its disposal. Spent fluorescent bulbs should not be placed in landfill due to the mercury used in the bulb. For the same reason, if you break a fluorescent, you must be very careful when cleaning up the mess.