You’ve packed your bags, stopped your mail and asked a neighbor to feed the dog…but have you considered ways to cut energy costs while you’re away on vacation?

A few simple steps can save you dollars and cents – money you can put toward your next trip!

Here are four tips from the Energy Education Council:

Lower the thermostat: There’s no need to keep the home as toasty as when you’re home. Lower the thermostat and keep it just warm enough so that the pipes won’t freeze; if you have a programmable thermostat, set it so that the home warms up in time for your return.

Unplug appliances and electronics: Many appliances and electronics – such as your computer and television — continue to use electricity even when turned off. To prevent this, unplug these items before you leave. This also protects your electronics, in case of a power surge while you’re away.

Lower the setting on the water heater: Even when you’re not using hot water, your water heater warms water to make it readily available when you turn on the tap. Before going away, turn the heat to the lowest setting, or, if you’ll be gone longer than three days, turn it off altogether. This can result in significant savings, as energy used by the water heater can account for 15 to 25% of your energy bill.

Put timers on lights: Keeping lights on 24/7 to deter burglars is unnecessary and wasteful. Timers can make the lights come on at varied hours during the evening, saving you money and giving a stronger impression to anyone watching your house with ill intent that you are home.