Here are some Simple tips that can help you save power around the house:

Cooking anything with either a conventional oven or over the stove will add a great deal of heat to your kitchen. If you cook in the middle of an already hot afternoon, the temperature in your home is going to dramatically spike and cause your AC to work overtime. Cooking during the cooler times of the day will help with saving energy because it adds less heat to the home.

Combining a 78 degree thermostat setting on your AC with the use of fans will save you the most electricity. The 78 degree setting is the most energy efficient setting for your unit and will save you the most money if used consistently. If you set the temperature to 75 degrees, you will pay 15 percent more for your energy, and if you set it to 72 degrees, you will pay 30 percent more.

It makes that much of a difference when it comes to saving energy.

Both ceiling fans and floor fans consume far less energy than your air conditioner. It is estimated that the average ceiling fan uses 90 percent less electricity than an air conditioning unit. There are also floor fans that some say cost only 1 penny a day to operate.

Fans create the perception of a cooler room by increasing air circulation. They do not actually lower the temperature, but you feel just as comfortable as you would if they did.

When you leave your home, do not turn your air conditioning off. Instead, set the unit to 82 degrees Farenheit. This will conserve the extra power that would otherwise be used to turn the unit back on again.

Frequently changing AC filters also contributes toward saving energy. Filters that are dirty cause the unit to work too hard. Keeping a clean filter in place will maximize your AC’s effectiveness.

More efficient use of your refrigerator will also save you money. The most efficient thermostat setting is between 36 and 38 degrees. It is also recommended that you cover all liquid items to prevent the release of humidity that will cause the cooling unit to work harder. Furthermore, any exposure to direct sunlight will cause the unit to work harder. It is recommended that you move the unit out of the line of the sun’s light to minimize the stress on the motor.

Hot water usage plays a similarly important role in saving energy. The less hot water you use, the less work your water heater has to do. You can save a great deal of hot water simply by washing your clothes and dishes in cold water only. Pre-treating stains, and washing them in cold water, is a better way of removing unwanted materials from your clothing, anyway.

When you are shaving, do not let the hot water run. Turn the hot water on only when it is needed.

Finally, becoming conscious of exactly how much light you actually need in a room will go a long way toward saving energy. You do not need a brightly lit room just to walk through. Install dimmer switches, and keep lights in hallways just bright enough to see safely. Turn lights off when you leave a room.