There are many ways to conserve energy and reduce your electricity bills. Here’s a list of ideas to help you at your home. Barbara Ann and her husband have used all of these ideas at their own home.

• Paint your roof white. This recommendation by the U.S. Secretary of Energy, a Nobel Laureate, works. “We painted our roof white; it makes a huge difference. We selected a coating which reflects 88 percent of the sun's rays. An uncoated roof reflects only 17 percent. Certain coatings such as these also extend roof life, reducing landfill waste, as well.” - Barbara Ann Radnofsky
• Dial Up or Dial Down. Dial up your thermostat a degree or two in the summer months and dial down your thermostat a degree or two in the winter months. You probably won’t notice the difference in your home but you will see a savings on your electricity bill.

  According to the Department of Energy, “You can reduce your water heating costs by simply lowering the thermostat setting on your water heater. For each 10ºF reduction in water temperature, you can save between 3%–5% in energy costs.

  Although some manufacturers set water heater thermostats at 140ºF, most households usually only require them set at 120ºF. However, if you have a dishwasher without a booster heater, it may require a water temperature within a range of 130ºF to 140ºF for optimum cleaning.”

• Close Empty Rooms. If a room isn’t being used, close the doors to reduce the areas which need to be cooled or heated. The smaller the area that needs temperature adjustments the less often the system needs to be used.
• Windows, Windows, Windows. Install energy-efficient windows to help reduce your heating, cooling and lighting costs. If you are unable to install new windows, improve the energy efficiency of your existing windows. Look into caulking or weather stripping your current windows, or learn about various window treatment options that will reduce heat loss and/or gain.

For more ideas on how to conserve energy in your home, visit http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/mytopic=11140