Some low-cost ways to drop your energy bill

One of the problems with suggesting ways to drop one's energy bill is that the savings are generally small and incremental. Consequently, many money-saving methods can end up costing you more (at least in the first year) than they save.

That having been said, there are many reasons to invest a little bit of money in one's abode. First off, if you own your home, or plan on renting it for a few years, the initial expenditure will pay off much larger dividends over time. Second, plugging up leaks and insulating your space decreases drafts and hot water outages, greatly improving the quality of your life. If you've ever been awakened by your own shivering, ran out of hot water in the middle of a shower, or found yourself swearing at your utility bills, then you know what I'm talking about.

Without any further ado, here are a few simple (and relatively inexpensive) ways to reduce your utility bills: