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Everyone is always looking for ways to keep their costs down especially with gas prices on the rise. Here are some easy things to do that cost little or nothing to save energy.

Open windows and use portable or ceiling fans instead of operating your air conditioner. Even mild air movement of 1 mph can make you feel three or four degrees cooler. Make sure your ceiling fan is turned for summer — you should feel the air blown downward.

Use a programmable thermostat with your air conditioner to adjust the setting at night or when no one is home.

Don’t place lamps or TVs near your air conditioning thermostat. The heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer.

Install a whole house fan or attic fan. This will pull the cool air in and get the hot air out.
Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close curtains on south- and west-facing windows during the day.

Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units, but not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity.

Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents; they produce the same light but use a fifth the energy and heat.

Air-dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.

Use a microwave oven instead of a conventional electric range or oven.

Caulking and weather stripping will keep cool air in during the summer.

If you see holes or separated joints in your ducts, hire a professional to repair them.

Add insulation around air conditioning ducts when they are located in unconditioned spaces such as attics, crawl spaces, and garages; do the same for whole-house fans where they open to the exterior or to the attic.

Check to see that your fireplace damper is tightly closed.

For more energy tips check out the US Department of Energy’s website.