Energy.gov

Valentine's Day. For many couples, it means cards, flowers, and prix fixe candlelight dinners. It also means for many couples a hefty withdrawal at the ATM to express their love. Fortunately, there are ways to save money by saving energy – even during the date – so you can spend the money you save on the things that really matter to your sweetheart. Here are five easy tips for those couples out there who want to save energy, save money, and save date night:

1. If you plan on spending your Valentine's Day cozying up near the fireplace, be sure to check out our 5 ways to maximize your fireplace and chimney efficiency. You’ll find some great tips on insulating and inspecting your chimney so that you can safely keep more of that heat at home.
2. If you plan on having a nice, romantic dinner at home and want to set the mood with proper lighting, use energy efficient light bulbs that save you money, and look for bulbs that are lower in lumens for a dimmer setting. Lumens tell you the brightness of the bulb. The lower the lumens, the dimmer the light.
3. For those who plan to cook that romantic dinner, there are some simple energy efficient ways you can prepare that meal. For example, did you know that if you're baking in a ceramic or glass dish, you can typically set your oven for 25 degrees less than the recipe calls for? Learn more about saving energy while cooking.
4. For those couples who would like to have a movie night, plug your TV and DVD into an electronic power strip to reduce phantom loads. By plugging in electronic devices into a power strip and turning it off when not in use, you can save up to $100 per year.
5. If you plan on going on a romantic getaway by car, be sure to check out these tips to reduce fuel consumption and costs. 

And last but not least, insulate your home, because as President Obama once said, "insulation is sexy."