Keeping cool during the summer can be expensive. To reduce energy use so utility bills do not rise when summer temperatures do, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) offers the following easy, low-cost steps:

Shading

Close blinds and curtains on hot, sunny days.

For long-term cooling, plant trees to shade your house.

Install white window shades or blinds to reflect heat away from your house.

Appliances

Set your dishwasher to air-dry mode to dry dishes, rather than using heat.

Put a fan next to your air conditioner to help circulate the cool air.

Turn off electronics, such as computers, televisions and radios, when you are not using them.

If you are ready to buy new appliances, look for those that are ENERGY STAR qualified, which means they are more energy efficient than traditional appliances.

Clean and maintain your air conditioner often. Make sure air filters, air intakes, grilles and radiators are unblocked and clean at all times to maintain peak performance.

Do not place lamps or other heat-generating appliances next to the thermostat. The heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer.

Landscape

Place air conditioning units under trees to shade the unit.

Avoid landscaping with unshaded cement or asphalt. It increases the temperature around the house and can radiate into your home.

Vines, such as ivies, can shade windows or a side of a house.

Miscellaneous

Check the weather-stripping and caulking for leaks around doors and windows.

Use natural lighting and compact fluorescent lights rather than heat-generating incandescent light bulbs.

Use a microwave oven instead of an oven.

To learn about more ways to conserve energy, visit the PCS’s Web site at http://psc.wi.gov/consumerinfo/conservation/indexConservation.htm or the state’s Focus on Energy Web site at www.focusonenergy.com.

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