Save Electricity This Summer

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When it comes to electricity, the less you use, the more you’ll save. Here are some easy ways to cut down your use of electricity this summer.

Move lamps, the TV and all other heat-emitting electric appliances away from your thermostat. The heat can make the thermostat work harder to make the house cooler than it needs to be.

If you’re still using incandescent lightbulbs, switch to LEDs. The newer bulbs emit almost no heat and use less electricity.

Set the air conditioning at 78 degrees. If you usually run it at 72 degrees, you can save on your cooling bill by letting the house stay a little warmer.

Plant trees outside windows on the sunny side of your house. The shade can save you money by blocking heat from the sun.

When you turn on your AC, turn on your ceiling fans too. Running them together will make your house feel 4 degrees cooler—so you can raise the thermostat by 4 degrees. Turn fans off when you leave a room.

Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees. That will save you money, and it’s safer than a higher setting.

Give your oven and stovetop a break on hot days. Use the microwave oven, a toaster oven or an outdoor grill instead, and you’ll cut your energy use while avoiding extra heat in the house.

Early summertime is no time to coop yourself up indoors with your computer. Turn it off and enjoy the great outdoors. But don’t leave the computer on when you walk away; unplug it or turn off the power strip it’s plugged into.

Still don’t have a programmable thermostat? It’s time to get one. Choose a model that can automatically turn the AC up when you’re not home and crank it back down before you return.