The heat is on in Arkansas and we want to save you money this summer. Here are 5 ways to keep your utility bills down we found from Reader's Digest.
1. Use your ceiling fan with the air conditioner. The air moved by a ceiling fan makes your body feel cooler, even when the temperature is high. Also, save energy by raising the air conditioner's thermostat 3-5 degrees above your normal setting and running the fan along with it.
2. Shut doors to unused rooms. To save energy, confine air conditioning to where it's most needed. Close doors to areas that don't need to be cooled.
3. Check your water meter. If your water usage is higher than usual for no obvious reason, it could be a hidden leak. Check the water meter reading last thing at night and first thing in the morning. If the reading indicates use, call in a plumber to track down the leak and fix it.
4. Insulate hot-water pipes. Insulate exposed hot-water pipes with preformed segments of pipe insulation. For a tight fit around corners and bends, cut segments with a sharp knife. Butt segments tightly, leaving no gaps. Tape joints with adhesive PVC tape. Paint the exposed insulation to stop deterioration.
5. Turn off electronics not in use. Up to a fifth of the energy used by televisions, stereo equipment, computers and printers is consumed while they're in stand-by mode. To save power, turn them off when they're not in use.