There’s a lot of talk about energy efficiency these days. Most of us want to live a greener lifestyle but sometimes we need a little push. Whether it’s unplugging, replacing, or simply turning down the dial, here are some tips on how to help protect the environment while saving money.

First, try replacing your TV with LED backlit LCD televisions. They are the most energy friendly TV’s on the market, saving you 50 percent more energy.

Next, turn off your computer. Leaving the screen saver on can use more energy than when you are using the computer yourself. You can save 50 to 100 dollars a year by enabling your computer to “sleep.”

Also, change how you do your laundry by turning down the temperature setting on your washer to 103° F instead of the standard 140° F. You save way more energy, and 103° F is just as effective for getting clothes clean.

Finally, if you are in the market for a new water heater, make sure you buy a demand-type water heater or tankless. It provides hot water only when needed and it could save about 20 percent more energy!