The middle of winter isn’t the time most people start taking on new home improvement projects. However, there are numerous household fixes you can do on your own that can save you money on your monthly energy bills. While these aren’t glamorous or crafty DIY project by any means, the money saved each month will certainly be worth your time. Here are four household DIY projects to boost your energy savings and comfort at home.

1. Seal air leaks:  The U.S. Department of Energy reports that more than 50 percent of the energy used in the average American home is devoted to heating and cooling. Damaged weather seals around doors and windows allow conditioned air to escape and outdoor air to enter, forcing your systems to work harder to maintain your desired room temperature. Replacing windows can get expensive, but one of the easiest and most affordable ways to seal air leaks is with caulk and weather stripping. Use caulk for any cracks on door and window frames and weather stripping for the movable parts.
2. Take care of your water heater: In most homes, water heaters are set well above the needed temperature to receive comfortable hot water. According to SaveOnEnergy.com, lowering your water heater to 120 degrees can save 6-10 percent in heating costs without sacrificing comfort. In addition to lowering the heater temperature, an insulating jacket is easy to install and helps prevent additional heat loss. They cost about $20 and pay for themselves in about a year.
3. Replace light bulbs with CFLs or LEDs: Incandescent and halogen bulbs are cheap to buy but expensive to use. Only 10 percent of the energy and incandescent bulb consumes is used to produce light while the rest is lost as heat. Halogen bulbs are slightly more efficient, but still lose a lot of electricity to heat. Compact fluorescent lights last 10 times longer and use 75 percent less power than incandescent bulbs, while LED lights are up to 80 percent more efficient and last 25 times longer. So despite a higher upfront cost, you’ll ultimately end up buying fewer light bulbs. According to Duke Energy, if every American replaced the five most used bulbs with energy-efficient alternatives, the country would save about $8 billion per year in energy costs.
4. Fill your refrigerator and freezer: Every time you open the door to your refrigerator or freezer, you let cold air out and warm air in. Once you shut the door, the system has to work to maintain the designated temperature. Having a full (but not stuffed) freezer and refrigerator means the unit will better be able to retain the cold. This can be particularly advantageous in case of a power outage. If you don’t have enough food to keep your refrigerator and freezer full, consider using containers of water. This may have the added benefit of keeping you from reaching for sodas and other calorie-packed drinks.

A lot of energy-saving tips we hear about require significant upfront costs and lots of time. In reality, you don’t have to go over the top to go green and improve your comfort at home. There are plenty of ways to go green, so find what works for you and enjoy saving on your energy bills.

Rose Haywood is a tech writer and freelance marketing consultant. She hails proudly from Asheville, NC but resides for the time being right outside of Atlanta, GA.