Good news! Lowering energy costs is good for your wallet AND it's good for the planet. Whether you revere Mother Nature or not, you and your wallet must have noticed that gasoline and energy prices are on the rise. And it looks like there's no going back anytime soon.

But there are several steps you can take at home to lower the cost of your electricity and gas bills. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to implement them -but wouldn't it be cool if you were?

Change your light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs provide high-quality light using smart technology and design, requiring less energy while lasting longer than typical incandescent bulbs. According to energystar.gov, if every household in the U.S. replaced one light bulb with a qualified CFL, it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing one million cars from the road. Consider the good you're doing while you drive to work alone in your SUV daily.

Another way you can cut costs is by programming your thermostat so that you're not heating or cooling your living space when you're not home. Keep it at a something reasonable...let's say low 70s in the summer and low 70s in the winter. If your thermostat's old school, manually turn it up or down when you leave. Why pay for energy you're not using?

Lastly, don't heat the outside. Make sure all windows and doors are sealed evenly. Call your apartment maintenance crew or landlord to help you check them, if you?re unsure.

And close your doors and windows when you have the heat or A/C running. We wish this was obvious to everyone. But it's not. So there, we've said it.