Valentine's Day is all about love—and I love all the quick and easy ways to save money and energy at home! How much do I love saving energy and money? Let me count the ways…

Energy Savers lists many tips to save money and energy at home, including:

  • Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the ENERGY STAR®label.
  • Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
  • Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
  • Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
  • Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.
  • Take short showers instead of baths.
  • Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
  • Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving—speeding, rapid acceleration, and braking—wastes gasoline. (And don't miss these gas savings tips at fueleconomy.gov.)
  • Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

President Obama recently reminded us that making buildings more energy-efficient is one of the fastest, easiest, and cheapest ways to save money. Energy Savers includes lots of resources for consumers to save money and energy, like information about products and services that can help reduce energy usage. The categories include:

And who doesn't love tax credits, rebates, and energy-efficient financing, including federal tax credits and state incentives for purchasing energy-efficient products or renewable energy systems for your home?

I also love the community of likeminded people on the Energy Savers Facebook page.

Happy February 14th! And for added holiday fun, try dialing down your programmable thermostat a degree or two and cuddle up extra close to your Valentine.