$$$$$ SAVING MONEY ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL $$$$$

Here's three simple household tips on how to cut back on your electric bill and make a decent saving on your money.

Household Tip #1 - Set your thermostat no higher than 68 degrees in winter and no lower than 78 degrees in summer. Turn your heat down even further at night or when you're not home (unless you have a HEAT PUMP, which operates more efficiently at one CONSISTENT SETTING). Each extra degree in winter can increase heating costs by 3%. In summer, each degree can raise cooling costs by 6%.

Potential Money Savings on your electric bill: $325 to $370 yearly.

Household Tip #2 - Think about cutting back on the use of your clothes dryer. Not only is it a big energy drain, it can also suck heated air out of your house very quickly in winter. Hang clothes on a clothes rack to dry and use the dryer for towels and other heavy items.

Potential Money Savings on your electric bill: $25 to $50 yearly.

Household Tip #3 - Use your microwave instead of your oven whenever possible and save up to 50% in energy costs for cooking. It also doesn't heat up your kitchen in the summer like your regular oven does, causing your air conditioner to run more.

Potential Money Savings on your electric: $50 to $75 yearly.

$$$$$ SAVING MONEY ON LIGHT BULBS$$$$$

Here's a couple of quick tips about light bulbs saving you money.

Household Tip #1 - Do you really think those long-life light bulbs are life-savers? Well, think again. Try to avoid long-life bulbs, (except for the lights in your very tall cathedral ceilings that you can't reach.) They are more costly to buy and less energy efficient than normal bulbs. Just buy generic ones from the supermarket or discount home supply stores, and only buy the special energy efficient types when they're on sale.

Household Tip #2 - What about fluorescent bulbs? Very efficient and very money saving. They are really the most efficient of all lighting sources. You can leave the room for several hours with the lights still on, come back, and they will have consumed a very small amount of energy. Fluorescent bulbs are also less likely to burn out from "flipping the switch."

Office buildings have this type because of their lower cost and durability.

$$$$$ LOWER YOUR HEATING BILL $$$$$

Here are a few simple household tips that will help you save money and energy when heating your home this winter:

Household Tip #1 - Lower the thermostat on your furnace. Experts estimate you can save 2 percent of your energy bill for every one degree that you lower your thermostat.

Household Tip #2 - Try maintaining a temperature of 65 degrees during the day, and lower it slightly at bedtime. It may be a good investment to install a clock thermostat that will set the temperature back automatically when you're at work during the day and sleeping at night.

Household Tip #3 - Replace or thoroughly clean the furnace air filters every month.

Household Tip #4 - Check for open fireplace dampers, and keep them closed when the fireplace is not in use.

Household Tip #5 - Insulate heating ducts that can leak heated air into the attic and crawl spaces.

Household Tip #6 - Move furniture away from floor and wall vents to promote maximum heat flow.

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