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Keeping energy bills in check during the summer months can be difficult at times, but I have found these five (5) tricks help to keep the bills down, the house cool and the family happy:

1) Have your air conditioning system checked by an HVAC expert every year, and if necessary, replace it with a newer model. Having an old run down air conditioning unit is expensive -in a lot of ways. Older units have older parts, which translates into a less efficient machine. Just like anything in life, as things age the parts that keep it running just are not as efficient. They get tired, worn out, and just simply outdated. If you do have to buy a new unit, look for the ones that have the energy star. Those units have proven to be not only good for your pocket book in the long run, but good for the environment as well.

2) Install dual pane windows or at least re-weather strip your doors and windows to keep your cool air in and the hot air out. Dual pane windows have proven themselves winners over the years for making our homes not only more sound proof, but they also make our homes more energy efficient.

3) Close your blinds and/or window coverings during the day. While you and the family are out (and if you can handle it, even when you are home), keep those blinds closed and those drapes pulled; close them before the sun starts beating down on your house. Another option is to have your windows tinted. Again, this helps in keeping the hot air out and the cool air in.

4) At night open your windows and let the night air come in. Have you ever noticed the drop in temperature at night? Well, use that to your advantage. In our home, we open the windows and place a fan by a window or two - this circulates the air flow throughout the house.

5) When you have done one through four, this last one will show you a noticeable difference on the number of times you hear the air conditioning kick in. Sign up for a Summer Save Program with your utility company. Here's how it works -The utility company contracts with a thirty party company who will install a summer saver device to your air conditioning unit. When you use your A/C, the device is set up to monitor your A/C's cycling during "conservation periods" or high use times and allows your cycling to be reduced by the program you choose (top choices are 50% cycling or 100% cycling reduction). The best part is thought, your A/C still continues to circulate air through the house. If your utility company doesn't offer this type of program, ask them why not and push to have it instituted. You should (generally) receive a rebate from your utility company and not be charged for the device. In addition to the perks for you financially, you will help the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To supplement this, you should have a digital thermostat installed and set to 79 degrees or even 80 degrees. Your air conditioning unit should only turn on at the hottest time of the day.

Fighting high energy bills in the summer doesn't have to make you sweat, it is just a matter of changing the way you of do things. There are, of course, other cost effective things that will help with your energy bills all year, such as changing your light bulbs to the more energy efficient compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and unplugging computers, chargers, etc., when they are not in use. "Keep it simple" you will make your pocket book happy. If you do find you have to re-insulate your home, install solar panels, or switch out all your appliances for more energy efficient ones, you will find, in the long run, the benefits and you help the environment as well-just don't forget to recycle or donate those old appliances.

Learn more about this author, L.J. Pugh.
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