Your bedroom should be the place that you go to unwind and relax, not to waste energy! If you’re ready to revamp your room to make it more energy efficient, follow these tips:

Make These Simple Switches

Use the ceiling fan.

To cut down on your energy usage, try using the ceiling fan year-round instead of relying only on your heating and cooling system. Everyone knows that a ceiling fan can help cool you down during the summer, but not many people are aware that it can also be used during the winter. If you reverse the direction of your ceiling fan, it will pull warmer air down from the ceiling to heat up the room. Start using your ceiling fan on a regular basis, and you can adjust the temperature on your thermostat so you don’t have to use as much energy to make your home comfortable.

Use energy efficient lights.

What kind of light bulbs are you using in your lamps and overhead lights? If you currently have incandescent light bulbs, make the switch to LED bulbs, which use around 25-80% less energy and last 3-25 times longer, too. Today’s LED bulbs have come a long way from what they used to be. Energy efficient shoppers will have no problem finding a bulb with the right color and brightness, so don’t worry about how making the switch will affect the mood in your bedroom.

Stop These Bad Habits

Unplug the charger.

Many people keep chargers for their cell phones, laptops and tablets in the bedroom so devices can charge overnight and be ready for use first thing in the morning. If you’re one of these people, make sure that you’re unplugging the charger when it’s not in use. Chargers still use energy when devices are not connected, so keeping your chargers plugged into the wall all day is actually a huge waste of energy. Make it a habit to unplug the charger from the wall at the same time that you disconnect your devices in the morning. Although it’s a small change, it will have a huge payoff!

Tackle These Projects

Choose Energy Star windows.

You know the windows that you love gazing out of when you wake up in the morning? If they’re older, single pane windows, you may have leaks that allow air conditioned air to escape to the outside and warm, humid air to make its way inside. This means your heating and cooling system will have to work even harder to maintain a comfortable temperature, and therefore will use more energy. Look for Energy Star windows that are made for the climate that you live in and the direction that your windows face. Once you find the right windows, you can install them on your own as long as you follow the directions closely. Over time, these windows will save you so much money on your energy bills that they will pay for themselves.

Install a window treatment.

Another way to reduce your energy use is to install a window treatment such as curtains, blinds or shades that you can use to control the temperature in your bedroom. If you live in a cold climate, installing and closing heavy curtains may be best, since these will keep the cold air out of your home in the winter and alleviate the strain on your heating system. If you live in a moderate climate, blinds that you can adjust throughout the year will probably be sufficient.

By making these changes in your bedroom, you’ll be one step closer to an energy efficient house!