Here are some tips from the Federal Trade Commission for lowering your monthly energy bill:

·         Shade your room air conditioner from direct sun to reduce its workload. Clean the filters monthly and replace as necessary to save energy and reduce dust and pollen in the air. Lower the setting when you go out to reduce operating costs.

·         Vacuum air vents, baseboard heaters and radiators regularly to remove dust that reduces heating efficiency. Move furniture, carpet or curtains that restrict their operation. If your baseboard heaters have movable deflectors or vents, open them in the winter and close them in the summer.

·         Schedule annual tune-ups for your heat pump, furnace or boiler. Check to see if your utility company provides this service.

·         Hire a professional to seal and insulate leaky ducts, and to ensure that the airflow distribution system serving your heating or cooling equipment is operating at peak efficiency.

·         Check your attic, attic stairway, attached garage walls and basement to ensure that you have proper insulation between conditioned and unconditioned spaces.

·         Open your foundation vents each spring if your home has a crawl space under it. Close the vents in the winter.

·         Prune back shrubs that may block airflow to your air conditioner or heat pump.

·         Consider installing ceiling fans to help circulate air.

For More Information

The Federal Trade Commission offers a wide range of information at www.ftc.gov. Or, call the toll-free help line at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) (TDD: 202-326-2502) or by writing: Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580.

The Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network offers a clearinghouse of energy-efficiency information at www.eren.doe.gov. Or, call the hotline at 1-800-DOE-EREC (363-3732) (TDD: 1-800-273-2957) or write: U.S. Department of Energy B EREC, PO Box 3048, Merrifield, VA 22116.

Your state and local energy offices and local utility company also may be valuable sources of information.