Summer is heading our way and so are the high-energy bills to keep your home cool. There is no doubt that summer is one of the best times of the year. Children are off from school and the neighborhood is coming alive again. Most people look forward to summer vacations all year long but they don't look forward to the extreme electric bills that come with keeping cool.

Here are some tips to help you fight the high cost of energy in the summertime:

Obvious Things

Make sure that you turn off lights, computers, televisions and other such things when leaving the room. Change your light bulbs to fluorescent type lighting to save on your energy bill. Hang your clothes on a clothesline rather than using the dryer. This saves an astronomical amount of money.

Temperature

When running a central air conditioning unit, you can control the temperature of the house. This is the reason that central air is more efficient than window units that stay on all the time. Keep the temperature a few degrees higher than you normally would. This will save a lot of money on your electric bill.

Use Fans

Instead of using the air conditioner throughout the summer, open the house up. Install ceiling fans and use those to keep it cooler. They also get the air circulating and don't take nearly the energy that air conditioning does. Getting floor fans is helpful as well because they can circulate the air more. Running fans throughout the entire house at all times will still cost less than air conditioning will.

Plant Trees

If you don't have trees that can shade your home, make the effort to plant some. Having your house in well shaded areas will keep the house much cooler in the summer. Even if you run the air conditioner, keeping the house cool with trees will tremendously cut your cooling costs.

The Great Outdoors

Spend a good deal of time outside. Sit on the back porch with the family. Go for walks or to the park. While you are gone from the home or spending time outside, you won't need the temperature to be as low therefore saving you money. Don't forget to turn the thermostat up a notch or two before you leave for the day. Put a small pool in the backyard to dip your feet in every now and then. Buy a swing that has a shade above it. You will find that you love spending time in the outdoors. When you come back into the house, you will feel as though it's freezing cold inside so you won't feel the need to lower the thermostat.

Watch Your Pets

Animals have a way of finding the coolest spots and planting themselves there. Follow his/her lead and sit in the same area as he/she lies down in. Pets who want to cool down will automatically know where to go. It's instinct. They will find places that humans would never think of.

Fighting the cost of high energy bills isn't difficult. Just as with everything else, there needs to be a little sacrifice at first. You may feel the pinch when you begin to put your plan into action, but eventually it becomes a habit that you enjoy. It will also help with the greening of our planet by saving precious energy. It's a win-win situation.

Learn more about this author, Dawn Hawkins.
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