Here's one more reason to consider investing in energy-efficient LED lightbulbs for your home: They won't mess with your thermostat. Incandescent, halogen and even CFL bulbs emit heat when they are turned on. If you have a lamp with one of these bulbs near your thermostat, it will sense the heat and assume that's the temperature of the room. In the winter, it will keep the house too cold, and in the summer, it will overwork to keep the house cool. With LED bulbs, you get the benefits of clean, bright light but with zero heat; LED bulbs do not produce heat and stay cool to the touch. Plus, many LED bulbs will last 20 to 25 years before needing to be replaced.

Most of us know that old cellphones of any kind can be recycled easily by dropping them off in Call2Recycle collection boxes at electronics stores like Radio Shack, Best Buy and Staples. But have you thought about the cords, cables and chargers that come along with your phone? The good news is that yes, they are recyclable. Wherever you bought your old or new phone should be able to recycle them. Best Buy also has a free recycling bin at the entrance of the store that can take them for you. To find a complete list of recycling retailers, visit ecyclingcentral.com.

One of the biggest energy hogs in the home during the fall and winter months is heat, whether it's from oil or electricity. While sealing up cracks in windows and doors is one way to prevent warm air from escaping, here's one culprit you may not have thought about: your kitchen and bathroom ventilation fans. Yes, they are useful for removing steamy heat or cooking odors from inside the home, but if they are left on for too long, they also suck out warm air. This causes your heating system to work harder to keep your home warm. Use the ventilation systems for a few minutes and shut them off to save money and energy.