Ever wonder where your money is going? Yes, some is heading down the drain (check your water-heating costs). And you might be surprised how the rest disappears. To help you to identify areas where you can save, here’s an itemized account of the average U.S. household’s annual energy bill.

Your Energy-Bill Breakdown

Heat and cooling, 48 percent

Water heater, 13 percent

Refrigerator, 6 percent

Dishwasher, 2 percent

Clothes washer and dryer, 6 percent

Computer and monitor, 1 percent

TV, VCR, and DVD player, 2 percent

Lighting, 5 percent

Other (stove, oven, microwave, and “wall warts”), 17 percent

Total: 100 percent

Get Energy Audited

Shocked by your power bill? Call your utility. Many companies offer free or discounted energy audits. (Locate an Energy Star–qualified home-energy rater or auditor at the Residential Energy Services Network’s site (). Expect to receive a home inspection, air-leakage tests, recommendations for energy-saving improvements, estimated savings, and a home-energy rating, all for a cost of about $300.

Vampires in the House

What’s sucking away your energy budget?

75-watt incandescent bulb: 5 cents an hour, or as much as $438 a year.

300-watt halogen lamp: 2 cents an hour, or as much as $175 a year.

Aquarium: 24 cents a day, or as much as $88 a year.

Christmas lights: 8 cents an hour for 100 lights; as much as $60 for December alone.

Heated Jacuzzi (with the jets operating while in use): 55 cents a day, or about $200 a year.

Water bed (heated, no cover): Up to $1 a day, or as much as $365 a year.