NBC25 NEWS - If you're looking to lower your electricity bill, reducing your consumption can make a big difference.

But cutting back can also help save the environment.

Electricity truly powers America, but ask most people and they'd love to cut back.

For them it's a pocketbook issue.  For the planet it's a health issue.

Anybody who pays bills can tell you electric rates continue to rise.

That's the hit to the pocket book.

Here's the hit to the environment: more than half the electricity that's produced in this country is coal generated.

That means atmospheric emissions.

Use less electricity and you'll kill two birds with one stone.  You'll lower your bills and reduce pollution.

When it comes to energy for heating and cooling, U.S. homes consume six times the world average.

You might want to consider an energy audit for your home.

You can contact your power company or look on-line.

Rich Beasley is with Pennsylvania Power and Light, a major electrical provider in the northeast.

He says there are many ways to cut back on the amount of power we use.

"If you have a 30-35 year-old heating system that's really costing you a lot of money, you might want to consider getting rid of it, getting something that's a lot more energy efficient," Beasley advises.

Put your thermostat on an inside wall in the home that's away from any drafts or any heat.

Energy efficient storm windows can save electricity too.

It's the same story with insulation.

And don't forget those small appliances.

Beasley says, “Hook your major appliances that have standby power up to a power strip or surge protector and you can turn your power off to those appliances and/or entertainment units at the surge protector or at the power strip and thus you don't have the energy coursing through a non-working entertainment unit or DVD player."

Over time, consumers should start to see those savings add up.

"Some savings might not amount to much in a week.  But they will amount to something in a month and especially in a year!" Beasley adds.

Fifty-two percent of the electricity produced in the U.S. comes from coal.

Nearly 20 percent is nuclear, 16 percent natural gas and another 7 percent is from hydroelectric plants.