(KANSAS CITY, Ks.) —BPU is celebrating Public Power Week this week.

#PublicPowerWeek, Oct. 2-8, along with the American Public Power Association and more than 2,000 other community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities that collectively provide electricity to 49 million Americans.

To mark Public Power Week, BPU offers a few tips on how to save energy and money in your home while caring for the environment and the community we live in:

According to the Alliance to Save Energy, the average U.S. home uses 70 light bulbs. Even though modern bulbs are energy efficient, you should still turn them off when they aren’t in use.

Swap out those old incandescent bulbs for new LED bulbs. According to the Department of Energy, they use up to 90% less energy.

Heating and cooling your home uses a lot of energy, set your thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer to save energy and money on your power bill.

Your home’s water heater is a big energy user. Make sure to use cold water when you can and turn off the hot water while you are scrubbing your hands.

Unplug appliances when you aren’t using them. Even when they aren’t being used, they are sometimes drawing “phantom power,” which wastes energy.

Consider a home energy audit. Energy efficiency experts can use special equipment to find things around your home—like air leaks—that may be costing you energy and money.

“We know that using energy wisely to lower monthly electric bills is important to Kansas City, Kansas residents,” said (David Mehlhaff, BPU Chief Communications Officer). “While we are sharing these tips during Public Power Week, we hope our community will keep an eye on energy efficiency all year round.”