There are always steps we can take to save money by using less energy in homes and buildings. Taking the extra initiative to use environmentally friendly practices can help you save even more money while also helping the environment. Let's explore five cost-effective methods that will lower your energy bills by using clean energy.

1. Travel wisely
   One of the easiest ways to save money and help the environment is by carpooling or using public transportation, reported Click Green. Biking, walking and running are also effective methods of clean travel and will save commuters a considerable amount on fuel costs. If you're curious just how much money you can save by walking to work each day, use the Kiplinger Calculator to estimate savings on gas, Click Green suggested. 
2. Plant something green 
   Air conditioning requires a lot of power and drives electrical bills up considerably during the warmer months. A good alternative method for cooling your home down without using any energy is planting trees or bushes. Not only do trees and other plants provide oxygen for all and help clean the air, they can benefit your home too, explained Conserve Energy Future. Choose a place on your property where a tree or large bush can give your home shade, effectively cooling your house down in the summer months and thereby lowering your electric bills that are typically spiked by air conditioning, the source explained.
3. Start a compost pile
   The clean approach of composting has become more popular recently as people are finally understanding its benefits. It is a low maintenance process that helps plants grow by using nutrients in food waste to enrich the soil, explained the Environmental Protection Agency. Compost piles also reduce the need for chemical fertilizer. Most of all, it reduces the amount of food waste in landfills and the greenhouse gases caused by them, the EPA said.
4. Use energy-conserving appliances
   Appliances are the biggest users of energy in home and buildings alike, stated Green Living Ideas. Therefore using energy-efficient appliances, like those approved by the Energy Star program, is a great way to save money on your energy bills each year, and owners even receive a refund through tax credit, reported Deal News. Older appliances, especially refrigerators, built during the 1980s and '90s often waste three times as much power of what a modern, Energy Star-approved appliance would expend, Deal News stated. 
5. Weatherize for the winter
   Poor insulation in homes, especially around windows and doors, leads to additional energy costs or many people, Click Green reported. By adding insulation to walls and sealing air gaps, energy users will see an immediate positive impact on their heating and cooling costs, recommended the U.S. Department of Energy.

Saving money through conservative practice is becoming more common among people recently as education and awareness of our environmental impact is as prevalent as ever.