Heading out on vacation soon? The last thing you want is to come home to a high energy bill for electricity you didn't even use! Luckily, we've created a simple checklist to help you prepare your house for vacation so you can save energy and money.

Toggle Your Thermostat

Ensure your air conditioner and heater don't run more than necessary by adjusting the temperature several degrees or turning them off completely. However, if pets will remain in the home with people checking on them, you should maintain a healthy and comfortable setting for their well-being.

If you have a smart thermostat, you can also adjust temperatures remotely from your smartphone as you enjoy your trip.

Ready Your Refrigerator

You've eaten all the produce and meat in your fridge to avoid spoilage — bravo! But an empty refrigerator can actually waste electricity because it's working harder to maintain its internal temperature without the help of cold objects. So, before you leave, help your fridge by filling it with several bottles or containers of water.

You can also set the refrigerator and freezer temperatures a few degrees higher to increase efficiency.

Close the Curtains

Shut curtains and window shades to reduce costly heat gain while deterring potential intruders.

Wind Down Your Water Heater

Nobody's showering, washing hands or doing dishes while you're out of town, so why pay to keep a whole tank of water heated? Turning your water heater down to "vacation mode" is an easy and effective way to save money, especially considering water heating can account for 14-25% of a home's energy usage.

Hint: Set a reminder to return it to its pre-vacation setting as soon as you return home!

Set Your Swimming Pool and Spa Equipment

Adjust the running time of your pool pump and/or spa heater to minimize energy waste while you're out of town.

Unplug the Unessentials

Before you head out the door, take one last walkthrough of each room. You will want to unplug anything that doesn't need to stay on, such as:

• Lamps
• Digital photo frames and clocks
• Fans
• TVs
• Video game consoles
• Stereos/speakers
• Entertainment systems
• Computers
• Printers
• Toasters
• Pressure cookers
• Coffee makers

This will minimize phantom load, also called "vampire power." That's the energy consumed by electronics when they're turned off or in standby mode but still plugged in.