Save energy this summer, beyond

These tips could save you hundreds of dollars this summer. Why not try a few of them in your home?

•Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doors that leak air. As Dad used to say, “We aren’t paying to air-condition the outdoors!”

•Use the microwave. Smaller portions are cooked more efficiently in the microwave, and the bonus is that its use doesn’t heat the kitchen like an oven would.

•Run a ceiling fan in rooms you are in. By turning the thermostat two degrees higher and using your ceiling fan to feel cooler, you can save up to 14 percent on your summer power bill. Be sure to run the blades counterclockwise (down) in the summer, and opposite in the winter.

•Invest in a light-sensing and/or motion-sensing porch light to save on energy costs. These types of fixtures turn outdoor lights off when the sun comes up or on when motion is detected in the area of the lamp, meaning you don’t have to leave a light on or remember to turn it off.

•Replace light bulbs in the five most-used light fixtures in your home with Energy Star-rated bulbs. It can save you more than $60 a year in energy use.

•Unplug battery chargers or power adapters that aren’t in use.

•When cooking, use the size pot that fits the burner, or the burner that is the best size for the pot. “A 6-inch pot on an 8-inch burner wastes over 40 percent of the burner’s heat,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

•Another fact from the EPA: A sink leaking hot water at “a rate of 1 drip per second can waste up to 1,661 gallons of water over the course of a year, and waste up to $35 in electricity or natural gas.” Not only are you paying for the water, but you’re paying to heat it, so why waste it?

•Turn off office equipment that’s not in use, like fax machines, copiers, printers and scanners. Turn off your computer monitor when you are not working at your desk.

•If you have a fireplace, close the flue damper tightly when not in use.

•Check your floor vents and air registers to make sure that air can circulate unimpeded by furniture or floor coverings. Change or clean your air filter monthly.

•According to ENERGYSTAR.gov, “Leaving your car at home just two days a week will save 1,590 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions each year.” Not to mention the gas you’ll save and the cost of wear and tear on your vehicle. Proper tire pressure can save gallons as well.

•Today’s dishwashers don’t require you to clean your dishes before loading. Scrape food off and save water. Run dishwashers with a full load.

•Whenever possible, use cold water to wash your clothes. Wash full loads, and if you have a moisture-sensing setting on your dryer, use it. Clean the lint trap on your dryer after every use.

•Setting your water heater’s thermostat to 120 F. or lower can both reduce energy costs and help prevent accidental scalding in the bath.