The weather is getting warmer. Summer heat will soon be here. Some places in the United States have already reached the 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

We can send our electric bill through the roof on just the cost of running our air conditioners, if we don’t do some practical money and energy saving things. They may not seem big, but they can make a big difference when we get the electric bill in the mail.

Turn Off the Computer – Turn off the computers when not being used. Computers generate heat. Computer use up electricity. Just by turning off your computer when it is not being used can save big bucks.

Cool Off Before the Heat - Open the windows or doors in the morning while it is still cool outside. Bring that cool outside air in the house to cool it down. Then as the day starts to heat up, close the windows and doors.

Use the natural air currents of the house to circulate this air. Bathroom fans are good to move hot air out of the house and pull cool air in from outside.

Cook Cool – Stoves and ovens will heat up the kitchen, quickly. The microwave oven will cook food using less energy and produce less heat. Plan your summer time meal using the microwave.

Then there is the BBQ. Everybody loves to BBQ. It is done outside. Plan those evening meals to be cooked on the BBQ. This way you are not heating up the kitchen.

Watch the Thermostat – This is one of the oldest energy/money saving method a family can do in the summer time. A thermostat set for a room temperature of 74 degrees F can make a big difference. If the outside temperature is 90, going into a house of 74 will feel cool. Besides it takes less energy to cool a house to 74 degrees than to 70 degrees.

Reflective Window Coverings - White or light colored window covering will reflect the heat from the sunlight. The darken blinds, shades and curtains absorb the heat from the sun.

Well, there you are there is my 5 tips for saving energy and money this summer. Tell me what are some of your favorite.

Tags: Energy Savings, Money Saving, Summer