MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Investing in a few high-tech gadgets now can really help you cut down on your energy bills later. Best Buy gave WCCO-TV some tips on simple changes you can make to your home.

The easiest way to watch your energy usage is to upgrade your thermostat. By buying a programmable thermostat you can set it to go off when you are at work or away from home and then warm up as you return.

Best Buy is now offering Control 4, a service that connects your Smartphone or tablet to your home utilities and some electronics. In certain set-ups, you can adjust the brightness of the lights and set your temperature controls from anywhere in the world as long as you’re connected to the Internet.

The cost of a Control 4 home set up will vary depending on how elaborate it is.

Best Buy also said that upgrading to a front load washing machine will save you on average $900 over 11 years. If you make sure it is an energy-efficient model it can save you even more.

They also suggest powering down computers and turning off monitors because sleep mode still uses power. Setting a lower background level for computer monitors, TV screens, and smart phones can cut down on energy use, too.

Finally, putting the refrigerator and freezer temperatures to the manufacturer’s recommended setting can save you even more money.