There are a number of gadgets you can use to help you save energy around your home.

Power Strips

Even if you turn off appliances and computer equipment when you're not using them, they may be draining valuable energy just by being plugged in. If you have too many gadgets to unplug them all individually, plug them in to a power strip that will allow you unplug all of your gadgets with one shot.

Programmable Thermostats

If you have central air conditioning, a programmable thermostat can help you keep your home at a precise temperature control. It can also be used to automatically lower your air conditioning and/or heat use while you are not home. Just program it and forget about it; it will automatically adjust things for you so that you are not wasting electricity and money.

Electricity Monitor

Similar in appearance to your household thermostat, an energy monitor, like the Meter Reader from Energy Monitoring Technologies, can help you cut your energy use by giving you a visual, indoor display of the amount and cost of energy that you are using throughout your home.

An electricity usage monitor can give you a much better idea of which devices uses the most energy and which you don't need to be concerned about. This device is also useful for figuring out how much power various home devices are draining and, how much they are costing you to run.

Energy Star Products

Appliances and gadgets that carry the Energy Star label use less energy and water than comparable models. And you can find an Energy Star version of just about any product you need. Check out the Energy Star website for a complete list of products that can be certified with the Energy Star label.

Solar Powered Chargers

Consider purchasing a solar-powered battery charger to power up your camera, cell phone, iPod, or laptop. Sundance Solar makes a series of foldable solar battery chargers that are small enough to fit in a backpack. Solio and Solar Styles also make affordable options.