Sustainable, renewable energy is a wonderful gift from Mother Nature, but until recently average homeowners could not afford this luxury. However, building your own green energy system implies some investments.

Here is one great way to save up for your alternative energy source and that is by starting to limit your home or business energy consumption now. By limiting your energy consumption, you will be "saving money" on your electricity bills.

You can start with these simple tips for cutting down your energy expenses.

• Decrease your "wattage consumption". Invest in energy efficient, compact fluorescent light bulbs. Don't just replace one or two bulbs, replace them all and turn off lights when not in use or find lower wattage options - instead of using the 4 bulb fixture above the sink, use the single bulb in the ceiling light.

• Turn off all your electronic devices when they are not in use. This goes beyond hitting the power button. If you have an extra power strip, it can save a bundle to use it for your electronics especially those that require a remote and are in a constant energy use state of "stand by". Simply switch off the power strips when the components are not in use.

• Use ceiling fans to circulate air and to make your Air Conditioner (A/C) more efficient.

• Change filters on A/C and heating units regularly (every 30 days) to increase efficiency and to have cleaner indoor air quality. This will also extend the life of the A/C unit.

• Air-dry your clothes and dishes whenever possible. If you don't like the feel of air-dried clothes, try a combination of a quick 15-minute dryer cycle and then a line dry to finish it off.

• Run the dishwasher for a wash cycle only and then open the door for the full air-dry effect, eliminating the steam or heated dry cycle and saving precious energy.

• Adjust your Thermostat: lower the heat in the winter, wear a sweater in the house and raise the A/C temp in the summer. Keep your home at a moderate temperature year round. In the winter keep upper level floors at a lower temperature, as it is the nature of physics that heat rises.

• Plan ahead and eliminate excess driving around for errands. Keep your tires and car in good condition to maximize your fuel efficiency and try to drive around 55-60 mph to increase your miles per gallon (mpg). The operation of your automobile can be very expensive! Money that you do not spend on fuel, tires, repairs, etc., is money that you can save to invest in your own Energy System!!!

• Use the window on your oven to view progress while baking instead of opening the door and letting precious energy escape. On the same note, if it is safe to do in your household, leave the oven door open after baking during winter months to take the chill out of room.

• Winterize your home as much as possible. Close doors to unused rooms and seal windows whenever possible.

• Replace worn, inefficient weather stripping around exterior doors. Your local home improvement store should have all of the necessary supplies and materials you will need to insulate and winterize your home so it will be more energy efficient and save on energy costs.

Think of it this way, there is no point in producing your own energy if you are just going to waste it by leaving the lights on and/or the windows open. If you plan to utilize solar, wind or some other form of alternative energy then it is best to get in the habit of making these little considerations now. Give it a try and watch as your monthly electric usage goes down.

Remember, it is easier to SAVE energy than create it!