In honor of Energy Action Month, America's electric companies encourage you to find simple ways to use electricity more efficiently every day. By making your home more efficient, you'll get more value from your electricity dollar and help protect the environment, too.

It's easy to get started. Use this site and visit your company's Web site to find energy-saving tips and ideas to help you make your home more efficient. You may be surprised to learn how easy it is to use energy more wisely. For example, did you know that each degree over 68°F can add 3 percent to the amount of energy needed for heating?

The nation's electric companies are doing their part, too. The industry's energy-efficiency programs for homes and businesses have saved more than 1,171 billion kWh of electricity between 1989 and 2010. That's enough electricity to power nearly 102 million average U.S. homes for one year.

And, the industry is using advanced technologies to help their customers get more value from their electricity dollar. For example, electric companies are installing digital smart meters to help customers better manage their electricity usage. Visit EEI's smart grid Web site to learn more. 

Electric companies also are providing a new transportation fuel for electric cars and plug-in electric vehicles. Electrifying our transportation system will help our country to reduce its dependence on foreign oil and create new, high-quality American jobs. Learn more about using electricity as a domestically produced transportation fuel.

And, be sure to follow EEI on Twitter and Facebook to receive daily efficiency tips throughout Energy Action Month (formerly called Energy Awareness Month). Saving energy just got even easier!