Families on a tight budget are always looking for ways to lower the bottom line. These simple changes can help you save on your utility bills and help out Mother Earth at the same time.

Turn the water off while you are washing your hands or brushing your teeth. As Athens Clarke County utilities likes to say, Think at the Sink!

Turn the water off while you are soaping up in the shower.

Don’t flush every time you use the toilet.

Set the water heater to 120°F. Install a timer so that the water heater will turn off during the hours of the day when you are asleep or at work. Timers can be purchased at your local hardware store or electrical supply house.

If you have young children, you may see a significant reduction in water waste by tightening the water pressure valve on your bathroom sink, reducing the flow volume. This is a simple task that does not require any tools and can be done in about 30 seconds.

Insulate your attic space to reduce energy costs. The most common type of insulation is cellulose blown in to your attic. Although not as effective as spray foam insulation, it is much more affordable.

Before installing insulation, spray foam may be used to prevent drafts and air leaks. A can of spray foam can be purchased at your local hardware store. Apply the spray in your attic and underneath your house, paying special attention to the space around light boxes, pipes and wires, and any holes in your ceiling or walls.

Weather stripping should be applied around doors and windows.

Keep your thermostat set to 68° in the winter, 78° in the summer to lower your energy costs. If you feel chilly, put on a sweater and some warm socks or long underwear. If you feel hot, turn on a fan or take a cold shower.

Install opaque shades on western facing windows in the summer to stay cool. In the winter, let the sunlight in and it will help warm up your house and cure you of the winter blues.

Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, which use 75% less energy and last ten times longer. They contain mercury so please don't throw away the used bulbs in your trash can.