The typical American family spends about $1,900 a year on home utility bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. A home energy assessment, or audit, is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more efficient, saving energy and money.

Homeowners can conduct a simple, no-cost, do-it-yourself home energy audit, contact the local utility company for a low-cost assessment, or call an independent energy auditor for a higher cost, more comprehensive examination.

In a no-cost, do-it-yourself energy assessment, the homeowner walks through the home, top to bottom, checking for leaks. Leaks can be found around electrical outlets, switch plates, window frames, baseboards, fireplaces, doors, attic hatches, and window or wall mounted air conditioners.

Look for gaps around pipes and wire, outlets, foundation seals and mail slots. Most holes can be filled with expanding foam or caulk, and homeowners can consult with a local hardware store for the best and safest remedy. Caulk, weather strip and low cost plastic sheets can fix window leaks.

Other inexpensive ways to cut back on energy consumption include installing energy-efficient light bulbs, plugging electronic devices into power strips and turn off the strips at night or when not in use, and installing a programmable thermostat. Good luck!