Energy costs seem to rise every year, but there are a few things homeowners can do to save money on energy. Some ways are even easy. The biggest bang for the buck comes in heating and cooling adjustments. Changing the thermostat on the air conditioner or heater by even a couple of degrees can make a difference in energy bills. Lowering the temperature on the home water heater can save money, too. Set its thermostat at 130 degrees to keep bacteria from developing and still save money on energy costs. The final way is to turn off unnecessary lights and unplug unused appliances. It's really just that easy.