Inc.com published an interesting little slideshow recently on ways to cut your energy costs. Most of those ways involve making some investment that pays a return in reduced energy costs. Some involve using alternative energy sources, like solar panels.

I learned a few things from the article. For instance, I learned that florescent bulbs begin to draw more electricity as they age. Inc says they should be changed when they reach 80% of their life expectancy - not when they finally burn out. If you change them all at the same time (and switch to the newer, more efficient T8 bulbs) you can track their life cycle and begin changing them all together when they reach that 80% threshold. And that can cut the electric consumption of your lights by 42%.

You can read the rest of Inc's suggestions here.