Save money on the air conditioning portion of your electric bill

Air conditioning is the single biggest driver of high electric bills in warmer areas. A 2.5 ton unit uses 3500 watt hours for one hour of use. Compare that to 75 for a television, or 350 for a refrigerator with the door open.

• First, raise the thermostat a little. Every degree closer to 78 will save you 3 to 4 percent.
• Ceiling fans can make the air feel cooler. Just make sure it's set to blow down, and not up. Most ceiling fans have a small rectangular switch on the side to change the direction of the air flow.
• Lastly, check your ducts for leaks. A story in the January 25th, 2001 issue of the LA Times found that up to 25 percent of homes were losing money from leaking ducts.

Of course, don't forget the obvious stuff as well...sealing up doors and windows, adding additional insulation, radiant barriers, and using sun-blocking curtains or shades.