As summer heats up, you can still save energy and keep comfortable

You don't need to overheat your budget to achieve summer comfort in your home. Control costs and energy use with these easy steps:

Ease summer demand. Don't overcool with your air conditioner.

• Set your thermostat as high as is comfortable, preferably to 78°F or higher when you're home and up to 85°F or turned off when you're away.

If we all reduce our air conditioner use by 10% this summer, we could save enough electricity to power 2,400 homes.

• Run whole house, room or ceiling fans. Turn off ceiling and room fans when no one is in the room.
• Use shades and drapes to block direct sunlight during the day.

Prevent excess humidity in the first place.

• Close windows and doors to keep the humid, hot air outside from coming inside.
• Vent to the outside. Kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans as well as clothes dryers should vent to the outside.
• Increase air circulation in damp areas.
• Put a timer on your dehumidifier so it controls humidity without running nonstop. (For added savings, be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR^® label when purchasing a new dehumidifier.)

Other ways to save energy and money this summer:

• Unplug that second refrigerator if not needed. That old fridge uses significantly more energy. Savings from unplugging it are typically $5 to $10 per month.
• Turn off lights, the television and other devices when they're not in use to save energy.
• Unplug standby-powered products that are not needed. Modern electronics often draw energy when turned off so they can power on quickly and retain certain settings.

Consider taking advantage of off-peak rates.

• If you do most of your home chores late at night or can switch significant electric use to off-peak times, you may be able to save money by converting to time-of-use rates. Go online to mge.com/tou for details.