Few quick tips to help make your home a little more Energy Efficient.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Direct Energy for sponsoring today's story and inspiring me to live a smarter and more eco-friendly lifestyle!

Here are a few ways my family likes to make our homes a little smarter.

We buy nothing but Energy Star electronics to use it really is worth the extra cash to save on electricity in the long run.  We also only use LED lights.  They last us a while, and once again cheaper, I have seen dollar stores sell Energy Efficient LED lights for 2 for $1.00 before, and they seriously last us years.  I also don't like lights being left on,  and I am a firm believer in unplugging electronics when not in use.  I'm a true believer every little thing helps.

I like to take quick  Need help thinking of ways to make your home smarter? We’ve got a mixture of energy efficiency and smart home ideas for you!

1. Install a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats offer you climate control, the convenience of programming away from home, and more.

2. Your living room typically has multiple active light sources available. Make sure your lighting is energy efficient by switching traditional bulbs to CFLs or LEDs.

3. Replace your old, inefficient appliances with new, efficient, Energy Star® appliances. Old appliances tend to run inefficiently.

4. Replace the showerhead in your bathroom(s) with low flow showerheads. These showerheads regulate the flow of water, assuring you a more efficient shower.

5. Change your air filter every 1-3 months. Clogged air filters increase your energy costs. Even though smart thermostats will send out reminders, YOU still have to do it.

6. Be sure your air return vents aren’t being blocked by furniture or carpets.

7. Insulate and seal your duct work. Make sure that all your heated and cooled air gets circulated in the right places.

8. Make sure you have a strong Wi-fi signal from your smart thermostat and smart devices. Because you can remotely control your smart thermostat via the internet, periodically check the signal strength in the network settings on the thermostat’s control screen.

9. Unplug energy sucking devices when they are not in use. Common energy wasters include your computer, printer, DVD player, phone charger and any electronics attached to a power strip. Unplug these electronics at night or when you are away from home.

10. Reduce waste at home by paying your bills online and reusing plastic shopping bags after you go to the grocery store to line trash cans instead of throwing them away.

11. Using dishwashers and washer/dryers at night will keep the house cooler, reduce strain on the power grid during the peak usage hours of 4 PM and 6 PM and reduce the chance of an emergency!

Crescent Moon Shaped Solar Powered String Lights Review 20 LED Lights on a String, from TMART.com

I have been using my Solar Powered Moon Shaped String Lights from TMART.com inside.   The Solar Power Mono crystalline or polycrystalline silicon solar cells work well enough by just charging ontop of my computer armoire while the base is pointed towards the window.  This proves they can be used inside, not just outside.  

As you can see, the Crescent Moon Shape for the light is actually pretty thick, and detailed.  You can find these at Tmart.com under 20 LED Solar Christmas Decorative String Light with Moon Shaped.  I think they can be used anytime, year round. As long as there is enough sun to charge them.  Full sun is ALWAYS better for all Solar Powered lights like this.  I turn mine on late night, and leave them on til morning.  

Here is a quick video I made of the Lights while they were turned on.  My 2 year old loves them, and it's great mood lighting while watching a Movie inside with the Hubby while the little one is asleep too.

There are 20 LED Lights on the string itself, the lights can last up to 15 hours, depending if you let them charge a full 8 hours during the day (Full Sun in my experience was the best method!)

These do work, and I dig the style of the lights.  Not only is it eco friendly, but it's also unique to have solar lights strung above the window when the Sun Goes down, and they do automatically turn on.

What makes these great for the price tag of just $14.89 and FREE SHIPPING, is that there are two different power switches.  K1 is for static light, and K2 is for flashing light.  I prefer the Static for inside.  If this is something you would like to own, seriously, check them out.  There are other products there that are Solar Powered, also various LED lights, House hold items, gadgets, really, they have just about everything imagineable, all at a reasonable price.  Where else can you get LED Solar Powered lights like this for less than $15.00 with Free Shipping???  

Or, ones that are just big, and detailed,

I received product to facilitate a review for TMART.com! Anything Solar Powered, and awesome, I am always willing to give it a shot.  In my opinion these are pretty awesome, and I NEED more solar powered string lights now!