In the warmer summer months, take these simple steps to stay comfortable and keep your electric bill under control.

• Set the cooling temperature to around 75 degrees, as this is where most folks are comfortable.
  
• When leaving for the day, turn the cooling setpoint up to 85 or install a programmable thermostat.
  
• Turn off unneeded lights and computers.
  
• Change or clean air filters at the start of the cooling and heating seasons for good system performance.
  
• Keep outside air conditioner condensers clear of cottonwood and leaves.

For more detail, look for our article entitled “Summer Tune Up”.

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This article originally appeared in Efficiency By Design, Summer 2004