Earth Day is April 22. If you’re looking for easy ways to reduce your energy use, you can start by:

• Turning the lights out every time you leave a room.
• Washing your clothes in cold water —you’ll save the energy it takes to heat the water for a warm or hot cycle.
• Emptying your clothes dryer’s lint trap every time you load the machine. A lint-free trap helps your clothes dry faster, which means you’ll use less energy running the dryer.
• Replacing your old thermostat with a programmable model. This can help you save up to 10 percent on heating and cooling, according to the U.S. Department    of Energy.
• Making sure your refrigerator and freezer doors are both sealed tightly. If a dollar bill shut in either door is easy to pull out, it might be time to replace the gasket.
• Unplugging small appliances like phone chargers and coffee makers when you’re not using them. These electronic devices use a little bit of energy when plugged in, even when they’re   turned off.
• Enabling the energy-saving features on your computer. These features will automatically put your computer in standby mode  when it’s not in use.