Summer is here and with it comes warm weather. We are all doing our part by staying at home. That means household energy use has likely increased which could mean a rise in energy bills. Here are some simple tips to help your home stay cool, save energy and lower your electric bill. 

• Close the blinds or shades in the morning to reduce solar heat gain. Keep the windows closed to keep cooler air inside.
• When temperatures cool down in the evening, open windows to let the cooler air in.
• Don’t cook in the oven, as it heats up the house. Use the microwave oven instead.
• Use fans to help people feel cool. Air running across the skin can make it feel up to 4 degrees cooler. At night, set them in the window to help draw in cooler air.
• Set the air conditioning thermostat to 78 degrees.
• Put your computer in sleep mode or shut it down when not in use.
• Turn down the brightness on your screens and use eco-friendly modes when possible.
• If you have a dishwasher, be sure to wait until it is full to run it.

For more tips, visit Energy Upgrade California website.