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Summer is here and we all know what that means, heat! Around this time of year home owners fall victim to high electrical bills. I have listed 16 tips to help cease large numbers on upcoming bill statements.

1. Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Increase your air conditioner thermostat by 3 degrees Fahrenheit in summer
3. Lower your thermostat by 2 degrees Fahrenheit in winter
4. Wash your clothes in cold water
5. Air dry your clothes during summer (and in winter in a sunlit room)
6. Turn off unneeded lights
7. Unplug the extra fridge in the garage
8. Insulate your hot water heater (you can use old blankets for this)
9. Wash dishes by hand rather than in the dishwasher
10. Turn off and unplug unused appliances that have a stand-by function
11. Take shorter showers
12. Turn your thermostat down when you go out in winter
13. Turn your air conditioning thermostat up when you go out in summer
14. Turn your winter thermostat down when you go to bed (and use your winter-weight bedding)
15. Close your blinds/curtains to provide extra insulation
16. Turn the TV off when you’re not watching it

I understand that some of these are common sense but a refresher is always nice. Personally, when the house becomes hot (around 1 to 3 PM) I drink a nice cold glass of water.