Kids starting a new school year aren’t the only ones who can earn an “A” in education. Raise your hand if you’d like to learn how to save money on your energy bill.

Before you hit the books, hit the switch: As the kids leave for the school day, make sure they turn off the lights to save energy and money. You can save even more by switching to LED bulbs. They use up to 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs.

Teach your thermostat: Since you’ll have less people in the house during the day, turn up the AC a few degrees to save on your energy bill, or better yet, get a smart thermostat and “teach” it to do this for you.

Use a smart power strip: Many electronics consume energy even when they aren’t being used, which can cost you up to $100 a year. Plugging chargers, computers and gaming equipment into a smart power strip saves money by automatically shutting down when devices are not in use.

Load up your laundry: With kids getting back into gym class, sports and other after-school activities, more laundry will need to be done. Wait until you have a full load before running the washing machine. Also, washing your clothes in cold water can save the average household as much as $30 a year.

Soak up knowledge … and savings: The average household spends about $300 a year on water heating costs. Lowering your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees is an easy do-it-yourself lesson to help manage energy costs.

Don’t test your refrigerator: Did you know we open our refrigerators on average 33 times per day? An open door allows warm, moist air in, which makes the compressor work harder. Pick a snack ahead of time, so you don’t leave the door open too long.

Stick to a schedule: Contact your trusted HVAC technician to make sure your furnace can pass its yearly exam and will keep running all winter long. Back to school is also a good reminder to change your furnace filter.

These tips won’t be on the final exam, but they will help you manage your energy costs. Study up on more ways to improve your efficiency year-round.