Although you might hear a lot about renewable energy sources from the mouths of politicians and energy executives, back in the real world, nearly all of the energy that is used to heat our homes, propel our automobiles, and power our appliances comes from fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas. While some people might choose to bury their heads in the sand over the environmental issues around the continued use of fossil fuels for this purpose, there's no getting away from the fact that it's starting to get pretty expensive. More so than any environmental campaign, the rapidly rising energy costs have forced us all to be just a little bit greener. So if you're looking to do your bit for the environment, and save some of your hard earned cash at the same time, here are a few handy hints to get you started:

If you have an air conditioning system in your home, try running it at a slightly higher temperature. Switching it from 72 degrees Fahrenheit to 78 can cut your energy bills in half, without causing any great discomfort.

Setting your thermostat just a couple of degrees lower than usual can save you over 10% of your energy bill, without noticeably reducing your level of comfort.

Keep your air conditioning filters clean, to ensure that they are working at maximum efficiency.

Only use heating or air conditioning in rooms that are occupied, and don't leave your heating or air conditioning on when you are out of the house, unless there is a danger of pipes bursting if you don't.

If you are sitting about, use small, localised devices such as fans or portable heaters to supplement your larger devices. You don't need to control the climate of your whole house if you are only going to be using a small part of it.

On a cold, yet bright day, leaving your windows closed while keeping your blind open will help to heat your home.

On summer nights, opening windows can cool your home just as effectively as air conditioning, without costing you a penny. Make sure that your home is properly wind and water tight.

Fixing minor holes in your roof and pipes can cut up to 10% from your heating bill.

Insulating your loft is one of the best ways to keep heat inside your home.

Rockwool insulation can be bought very cheaply from DIY stores, and there are sometimes grants available from the government to help with the costs.

If your boiler is over ten years old, then you could save a lot of money off your bills by upgrading it with better controls, or replacing it with a new, energy efficient condensing boiler.