It takes about five years of driving a hybrid for the savings to catch up to the extra cost of the fuel-efficient car. One quick way to start seeing real savings really fast is to buy a used hybrid. With over 2 million hybrid cars sold in the United States annually, car dealerships are flush with lightly used hybrids that are marked way below their sticker price. Make sure you buy a used hybrid that comes with a warranty; many dealers offer up to 7-year/100,000-mile warranties. But if you see a used hybrid with more than 100,000 miles on it, consider avoiding it, since it can be expensive to replace the battery.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program, a programmable thermostat can save the average homeowner about $180 a year in energy costs. But the key thing is that you use the thermostat properly. One common error is having furniture blocking the thermostat, which can block airflow and cause false readings. Another mistake is placing a thermostat in the path of direct sun shining through a window; this can cause the thermostat to read the home as extra warm, which forces it to run air conditioning in the summer or to not turn the heat on at all in the winter.

Twenty-five percent of your home's heat can escape through cracks, crevices and leaks in and around windows and doors. One of the biggest culprits? In-window air conditioning units. Now is a good time to remove these units and put them into storage. If that isn't feasible, do the next best thing: Wrap them up. Cover the unit in insulation, wrap it in plastic sheeting and use all-weather tape to secure it in place. You can also buy air conditioner covers that are designed to fit snugly around the unit from your home improvement store.