Recently, the government’s Cash for Appliances program has been slathered with attention for its rebates of up to $500 simply for being willing to trade less energy efficient appliances for more green models. However, these rebates are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, making them rather short lived in some states, but in states like Michigan, there were plenty of greenbacks just itching to be given away at the end of May.

But even if a visit to Energy Savers leaves you unqualified for Cash for Appliances rebates, there are still over 600 utilities programs and over 100 state programs willing to offer incentives for making your home more energy efficient. As an example, Oregon offers a $75 rebate for purchasing an Energy Star washing machine, or a $30 rebate for recycling older refrigerators.

Making energy improvements in your home may qualify you for a $1500 federal tax credit for up to thirty percent of cost, at least through the end of 2010. Another option is the Cash for Caulkers bill, recently passed in May, which would give homeowners robust rebates for a variety of projects centered on making energy improvements. In fact, it may be possible to take the tax credit and still qualify for Cash for Caulkers rebates.

Getting that snazzy rebate might nudge you towards purchasing that brand new washer/dryer set you’ve wanted for a while, but other projects may be more worthwhile in the long run. If you’re unsure as to what projects are ultimately worth your while, a thorough home energy audit will narrow down areas of your home that need improvement, although they may set you back about four hundred dollars. Another option is to look into whether your home state or utilities provider offers basic audits for free or at lower cost.

Don’t worry if you can’t afford to make those energy efficient decisions, there are plenty of little things to do to save energy without extra cost. Your thermostat is one small example, where every degree going up or down will save 2% of annual heating or cooling costs. Replacing five of your most frequently used light bulbs with fluorescents can take the bill down by up to $70. Even getting rid of non-essentials like the extra fridge in the garage for extra drinks or the electric heaters to warm your feet during the winter will save you $200 or more per year.