~Cool down your power bill with these tips~

•Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.

•Avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and therefore, unnecessary expense.

•Consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your air conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing your power use.

•Avoid placing lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.

•Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units but not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same operating in the sun.

•In the summer you can save $$ by automatically turning your air-conditioner up at night or when you are at work.