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When I looked at the amount due on my electricity bill last July, the only thing that kept me from passing out on the kitchen floor was the thought of how much it would cost for an ambulance to come out if I hit my head. An ambulance would probably cost slightly less than my energy bill, but I couldn't afford both - so I set about doing some research on how to pare that bill down to a more reasonable level; here's what I found.

Overuse of the air conditioner While it's nice to stay cool during sweltering summer days, it's wasteful to use the air conditioner on tolerable days. By investing in two fans to circulate the air through your home, you can enjoy a fresh-air breeze without spending as much. Put one fan in a window with the blades facing in; that will bring in outside air. Place the other fan (facing outward) in a window on the other side of the house to blow the heated indoor air back outside. The energy used to power a fan costs less than half of what an air conditioning unit does, so you'll save big.

Appliance nightmares Using the washer and dryer for anything less than a full load is crazy. Consider this: you'll be using the same amount of power whether the washer is filled to the brim or you're washing a t-shirt and a couple pair of socks. You're going to have to wash the rest of the clothes eventually anyway, so why use twice the power to do it?

Old refrigerators with lots of bells and whistles can suck up more resources than you're willing to give; while refrigerators aren't cheap, switching to an energy-efficient model will save you money in the long run. Choosing a freezer-on-the-bottom style will help save money, too - the cold air that seeps up from the frozen section will help cool the air in the top, which means the refrigerator needs less power to keep cool.

Light bulbs can be a nightmare, too. When your house is a veritable power vacuum, every little bit helps. When you switch to energy-saving, lower wattage bulbs, you may be able to shave up to 25% off your monthly bill. If you're using 100-watt bulbs in every room, think about switching to 75 watts - the light is only slightly dimmer, but you'll notice a drastic change in the amount you owe the energy company.

Family dinners Using the stove and oven on a daily basis takes a big chunk of power, so use the microwave for whatever you can. I'm not suggesting that your family has to survive the summer by only eating Hot Pockets and pizza rolls, but if you can avoid cooking the spinach on the stove, do it.

Who says barbecuing is only for Sunday afternoons? Using your grill a few times during the week will also slash your energy bill - and it's fun at the same time. You can get creative with recipes and then eat outside (and avoid using the kitchen and dining room lights, too).

Staggering energy bills don't have to be a reality in your house this summer. You don't want to keep up with the Joneses bills, after all; by using these simple strategies, you can easily spend half of what your neighbors are!

Learn more about this author, Angie Papple.
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