Hey Guys and Girls,

I was forwarded this information and wanted to pass it along to all of you. With the ever increasing price of fuel, we need ways of saving money anywhere possible. I found a good bit of this to be neat and intriguing. Take a look at it and see what you think.

Thanks,
Jean


Summer will soon be upon us and the cooling season has probably already started in your neck of the woods. With energy prices soaring being energy efficient is not only a good thing to conserve but it may help to cut down on your electric bills during the hot summer months.

Your individual savings will depend on how energy-efficient your home is now, the type of home you have, and the area of the country where you live.

Use Air Conditioning and Fans Wisely

• Open windows and use portable or ceiling fans instead of operating your air conditioner.
• Use a fan with your window air conditioner to spread the cool air through your home.
• Use a programmable thermostat with your air conditioner to adjust the setting warmer at night or when no one is home. 
• Don't place lamps or TVs near your air conditioning thermostat. The heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer.
• If your air conditioner is old, the new energy efficient models can save you up to 50 percent on your cooling bills.
• Consider installing a whole house fan or evaporative cooler if appropriate for your climate.

Low Cost Tips to Save Energy

• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents.
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
• Use a microwave oven instead of a conventional electric range or oven.
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVDs, into power strips and turn power strips off when equipment is not in use.
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater. 115 degrees is comfortable for most uses.
• Take showers instead of baths to reduce hot water use.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Use cold water to wash your clothes.

Landscape for Energy Efficiency

• Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units, but do not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity.
• Grown on trellises, vines such as ivy or grapevines can shade windows or the whole side of a house.
• Avoid landscaping with lots of unshaded rock, cement or asphalt on the south or west sides -- it increases the temperature around the house and radiates heat to the house after the sun has set.
• Trees whose leaves fall off in the winter, planted on the south and west sides, will keep your house cool in the summer and let the sun warm your home in the winter.
• Just three trees, properly placed around a house, can save between $100 and $250 annually in cooling and heating costs. Daytime air temperatures can be 3 to 6 degrees cooler in tree-shaded neighborhoods.

Shade Your Windows

• Sunny windows can make your air conditioner work two to three times harder.
  Install white window shades, drapes or blinds to reflect heat away from the house.
• Close curtains on south- and west- facing windows during the day.
• Install awnings on south-facing windows. Because of the angle of the sun, trees, a trellis or a fence will best shade west-facing windows.
• Apply sun-control or other reflective films on south-facing windows.
• If you want to replace your windows, consider the new double-pane windows with spectrally selective coatings.