Saving energy might be easier than you think. Here are three simple ways you can reduce your electricity bill and help the environment simultaneously.

• Lights out: As a child, you were always told to turn off the light whenever you left the room, and the rule still applies. Simply turning off the lights when leaving the room will save electricity; a 100-watt bulb left on for eight hours a day will burn $30 worth of electricity yearly.

• “Sleep” mode: If you make your computer “sleep” after 30 minutes of non-use, you can save its power demand by up to 90 percent. If you leave your computer for an even longer time, just unplug the surge protector. Booting up your computer when you return only takes a few seconds. Monitors drain power quickly, so turning off your computer will help conserve energy.

• Car tips: Running a car emits more pollution than simply stopping it, so if you are stopped for a long period of time, turn off your engine. If you don’t, you could end up wasting gas while sitting idly.

For more ways to save energy, visit Real Simple’s web site.