Summer is Almost Here - Save on Electricity Costs

Well, we feel it when we walk outside...that warm, balmy, soon to be summer weather, creeping upon us.  It's time to close the windows and turn the air conditioning on. We are hearing that electricity costs are due to rise over the summer  because of the price of natural gas and coal.

Here's a couple of tips to help prepare your home and help keep your electric bill down:

Check out your thermostat.  Do you have a programmable one, that can be adjusted to set different temperatures at different times of the day and night? If you don't have one, consider having one installed at a small cost. What is your thermostat set on?  Set it for a couple degrees warmer in the house while you are away at work. And then when you're home, have it drop back down.  (Don't forget about your pets during the day.  Be sure it remains comfortable for them).

Clean or replace your A/C filter every month.

How much insulation do you have in your attic?  Take a peek and look.  A lot of hot air escapes from the attic.  A well insulated attic can help save hundreds on your electric bill.

Check your windows and doors. Are they properly sealed?  If not, add weather stripping where necessary and apply silicone or caulk around the windows.

Avoid pre rinsing dishes when putting them in the dishwasher.

Reset the temperature on your hot water heater, now that warm weather is here.

Reset the water level on your washing machine for each new load.

Clean your dryer lint trap before each new load.

Run your pool pump 6 hours a day, at the most,  in the summer.

Turn off lights as you leave a room.

Turn off all ceiling fans when you leave the house for the day.

Turn off your computers.  A computer that remains on for 24 hours a day can use up to $7 a month in electricity.

Keep your shades drawn on your windows during the day, while you are gone.  It keeps the house a bit cooler.

Install the new CFL light bulbs.  Each bulb can save as much as $30 to $50 a bulb, over the lifetime of the bulb.

Contact FPL and have them install an On-call box on your home.  It can save you up to $100 a year.

Did you know that you can go online to FPL and take an energy survey.  It tells you how much energy you are using and where you can reduce costs.