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Don’t choose a lower air conditioning temperature when you first turn it on. It won’t cool faster –- whenever it’s running it’s cooling as fast as it can. Set low, it cools longer, not faster.

Replace or clean dirty air filters - dirty air filters cause the unit to run longer.

Replacing old appliances and equipment with new, energy-efficient models will help customers save money and reduce energy demand for the entire community.

Close shades, drapes and blinds during the day (all directions). This will help keep heat from the sun out of your home, which is helpful during the summer.

Run your dishwasher late at night and air dry your dishes. You won’t need to open the dishwasher door until morning, so you won’t let heat and humidity into the air.

Although your double-hung single-pane windows with interior storms are certainly not the most energy efficient available, it would not be cost-effective to replace them from an energy savings perspective alone. As an example, for a two-foot by four-foot window this would equate to $8 in annual savings. If you compare that to the $400 or higher cost for that window, you are looking at a multiple decades payback period. So try using our weatherazation tips to help lower costs.

Fix leaky faucets. Test by placing a cup under a faucet – if it fills up after ten minutes you are wasting over 3,000 gallons of heated water per year!

Most filters are labeled with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating number, which measures a filter's ability to trap particles ranging in size from 3.0 microns to 10.0 microns. Residential filters commonly have MERV ratings of 1-12. In most cases, a pleated filter with a MERV rating between 6 and 8 is adequate. Remember to clean or change your filters at least every two months during the heating season.

Consider replacing your air conditioner with a new, high efficiency air conditioner. By replacing your current air conditioner with high SEER model, you would save nearly 50 percent on your electricity bills for air conditioning.

Insulate all of your hot water pipes. Not only does this help save money, but slit-tubular pipe insulation will lessen the time waiting for hot water to be delivered to a faucet.By adding this insulation, you will save an estimated $25 per year.

Hidden gaps and cracks in a home can add up to as much airflow as an open window and can cause your cooling system to work harder. Home sealing your home “envelope” – the outer walls, ceiling, windows and floors -- can save up to 10 percent in energy costs. Start by sealing air leaks and adding insulation, and be sure to pay special attention to your attic and basement.

When using the oven, resist the urge to open the oven door to check on food. It allows extra heat to escape into the house.

Use cold water setting on your clothes washer and run only full loads. This way your water heater doesn't have to work as hard and you save water in general.

When buying a new air conditioner, make sure it is properly sized and installed – bigger is not always better. Units with too large a capacity will cost you more and may decrease your home’s comfort.

Plant trees to provide shade for your home. Trees help cool your home during the summer.

Set your thermostat at 80 degrees – each degree below 80 will cost you $8 more per month on your cooling cost. Setting your thermostat at 70 degrees can double your bill.

Keep up the habit of turning off lights as you leave a room, especially in summer. Lights add a lot of heat to the room. 99% of a light’s energy use is converted to heat, 1% to light. Use only as much light as you need.

Cleaning a load of dishes in a dishwasher uses 37% less water than washing dishes by hand. Rinsing dishes before loading them into the dishwasher can use up to 20 gallons of water and electricity to heat the water. Just scrape the dishes and load. Operate your dishwasher only when it is full and enjoy your energy savings!

If you have ceiling fans, run the fans and the air conditioner at the same time but set the air conditioner a few degrees higher, to 80 or 81 degrees. With the breeze from a fan, you should feel as cool as you would at 78 degrees with no fans – but you’ll reduce your costs by about 15%-25%.