With the summer months just around the corner, you may soon have to turn on your air conditioning, if you haven’t done so already. By following a few simple tips, you can keep your energy bill lower and help conserve resources.

• Turn off and unplug any electrical devices that are not in use.
• Check the exterior of your home for air leaks, especially around openings for hoses and vents.
• Change or clean your furnace filter once a month.
• Use ceiling fans to help circulate air throughout the house.
• Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs use less energy and last longer.
• Replace aging and inefficient appliances. Look for appliances with the “Energy Star” logo, which means it exceeds minimum federal energy-use standards, usually by a significant amount.
• Instead of using a dryer, air dry your clothes on a clothes line or drying rack.
• In warm months, set the thermostat to 78-80 degrees when home and 5 to 10 degrees warmer at night or when you're not home.
• In the cooling season, close blinds and drapes during the day to keep heat out.
• Plant trees and shrubs on the south and west side of your residence to provide shade.
• Conserve energy by running your dishwasher only when it is fully loaded, and turn off the dry cycle and air dry dishes instead.
• When you need to use the dryer, run full loads, use the moisture-sensing setting, and clean the clothes dryer lint trap after each use.
• Get rid of the extra freezer or refrigerator in your garage.

For more tips, visit the following Web sites:

NVEnergy
U.S. Department of Energy

You can learn more about energy conservation at the Nevada Power Energy Conservation Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, located at 333 S.Valley View Blvd. The fair will feature demonstrations on refrigerator recycling, solar generation and home weatherization.