While there is nothing in the world quite as rewarding as home ownership, the experience can be a double edged sword. Even if your home is brand new, the well trained eye can spot energy leaks a mile away. Window fittings that are just a hair off, lights left on in rooms for hours with no one there and an upstairs toilet that just won't stop running can all run up your power bill. Let's take a look at a handful of common sense things you can do around your home to lower energy bills and your blood pressure.

When it comes to saving energy around the home, it is a good idea to approach the problem in an inverted pyramid style. You want to take on the biggest energy wasters first and then work your way down the pyramid towards the smaller things. You don't want to waste weeks trying to reduce your laundry drying time by 2 minutes when your hot water heater isn't wrapped up in insulation.

If you've ever used a space heater, you have probably thought that they use a considerable amount of energy. In reality, using space heaters as an alternative to central heat can actually be quite economical. A recent study showed that if you simply moved around space heaters in your home all winter, you could save over a thousand dollars per year. Of course, the heaters would have to be energy efficient models and not ones from 20 years ago, but genuine savings are possible.

Next, if you live in the Southern United States, you likely have air conditioning (and bless you if you don't.) As tempting as it is to crank up the AC when you need it, you can save over $500 a year by simply using fans in your home, instead. They don't provide quite the same relief as air conditioning, but they can lead to lower energy bills pretty quickly.

If you live in an apartment, you may not be able to take advantage of the next tip, but if you own your own home, you may want to think about installing a clothesline in your backyard. You can save approximately $150 a year by unplugging your dryer altogether and drying your clothes the old fashioned way.

The home computer is also a bit of an energy guzzler, as well. By turning off your computer when you aren't using it, or by using the sleep mode, you can save almost $100 a year on your power bill. Recent advances in computer technology have put an end to the myth that computers use more energy to start up than they do to simply stay running. By using the sleep mode, you can enjoy lower energy bills right away.

As you can see, lowering your power consumption isn't difficult, and in some cases, it can be fun. Simply use these common sense tips and you'll have a greener home overnight.