Taking a summer vacation? Whether you’re headed down the street or around the world, here are some easy adjustments to make so you can save energy and money while you’re away.

• Turn up the thermostat. Setting your thermostat to 85 degrees will prevent your air conditioning system from working overtime to cool your home while you’re not there.
• Turn down the water heater. Similarly, turning your water heater down to the lowest setting will ensure that you are not using energy to heat water when you don’t need it.
• Turn off the lights. Turn off all unnecessary lights, and consider using a timer if you want to use a light for security at night.
• Turn off AND unplug electronics. Electronic devices like computers, TVs and microwaves use energy even when they are turned off. Use a power strip so that you can fully shut down all of your unused devices with a single flip of a switch.
• Turn to technology. Technology can be a huge help when it comes to saving energy while you’re not at home. Smart and programmable thermostats can be set to automatically adjust the temperature setting when you are away from home. In addition, smart thermostats are internet-connected and allow you to remotely control the temperature in your home from your phone, computer or tablet.