Conserving energy is the single most effective way to lower your energy bill, no matter what the season. To manage the impact of the summer heat, Vectren offers the following energy efficiency tips. These tips as well as more detailed information can be found at the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Savers web site or at the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor's web site.

For those seeking Winter Energy Conservation tips, click here.

Quick Tips

• Enroll in Vectren's Summer Cycler Program. Summer Cycler is a voluntary energy management program that briefly cycles off select appliances in your home during periods of peak electricity demand. By joining the Summer Cycler program, you can earn bill credits up to $7 per month from June through September. This program is only available for Vectren Energy Delivery electric customers. Click here to learn more or to enroll.
• Indiana homeowners who add new insulation, weather stripping, storm doors/windows or double-pane windows may qualify for an insulation deduction (of up to $1000) on their state income taxes. For more information, contact the Indiana Department of Revenue's district office for your area or visit the Department's web site at www.IN.gov/dor.
• Check weather stripping, caulking and seals around doors and windows. Remember that even a small crack or hole can lead to the same air loss as an open window.
• Air conditioners will work more efficiently when shaded by trees or shrubs. However, make sure the trees and shrubs do not block the airflow.
• When using a window air conditioner, eliminate air leaks between the air conditioner and window with foam insulation or weather stripping.
• When leaving your home for a few hours or going to bed at night, raise the thermostat a few degrees.
• Close storm windows and doors to keep hot air out and cool air in.
• Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun to keep heat out.
• White blinds, shades and curtains reflect sunlight (unlike dark colors that absorb it).
• On very hot days, minimize the use of ovens, stoves, washers, dryers and other major appliances that generate heat.
• On days when the temperature reaches 90 degrees or more, it is best to wait until after 6:00 pm before cooking, doing laundry or washing dishes.
• Microwave ovens, pressure cookers and outdoor grills use less energy than regular stoves and ovens.
• Reduce the thermostat on your water heater.
• Turn off all unnecessary lights.
• Use compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, especially in fixtures that are used for extended periods of time. CFL bulbs use as little as 1/4 the amount of electricity used by traditional incandescent bulbs, while creating the same amount of light.
• Turn off computers, monitors and other home electronics (including TVs, VCRs and stereos) when you are not using them.
• If you are planning to be away from home and want to have lights or appliances turned on for security reasons, use a timer.
• When shopping for appliances, shop around and look for energy-efficient products. Products with the Energy Star label operate well above minimum energy efficiency standards.

Have your system maintained annually by a qualified technician to make sure your air conditioner can beat the heat. Or clean the unit yourself: shut off power to the unit before cleaning it. On the inside, wash or vacuum cleanable filters; replace disposable ones. Clear leaves and other debris away from the condensing unit on the outside of your home and hose off any accumulated dirt. Sealing your air ducts to prevent leaks is even more important if the ducts are located in an unconditioned area such as an attic or vented crawl space. Remember: typically, 44% of your utility bill in the summer goes for cooling the home.

Ventilate the attic
When the outside temperature is in the 90's, your attic can easily reach 140 degrees. Adequately sized vents and/or an attic fan can help keep hot air from building up.

Better insulate your home
The easiest and most cost-effective way to insulate your home is to add insulation in the attic. To find out if you have enough attic insulation, measure the thickness of insulation. If there is less than R-22 (7 inches of fiber glass or rock wool or 6 inches of cellulose) you could probably benefit by adding more. Most U.S. homes should have between R-22 and R-49 insulation in the attic; a local contractor can suggest an insulation level.

If your attic has ample insulation and your home still feels drafty and cold in the winter or too warm in the summer, chances are you need to add insulation to the exterior walls as well. This is a more expensive measure that usually requires a contractor, but it may be worth the cost.

Alter indoor lighting
Fluorescent lamps are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last 6 to 10 times longer. Although fluorescent and compact fluorescent lamps are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, they pay for themselves by saving energy over their lifetime. Find these at your local home improvement store.

Install a programmable thermostat
Leave it on a higher temperature while you're away, and set it to cool the house half an hour before you return home. You can save as much as 10% a year on your cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10% to 15% for 8 hours.

Set lamps, TV sets, and other heat-producing devices away from the air conditioner thermostat. Heat from the lamp could cause the thermostat to read higher temperature and keep the air conditioner running more than necessary.

Install awnings over windows exposed to direct sunlight
Keep the sun out of your house. Close blinds, shades, or draperies during the hottest part of the day. During the summer, sunny windows make your air conditioner work two to three times harder.

Update your landscaping
Shading and evaporative cooling from trees can reduce the air temperature around your home. Studies conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found summer daytime air temperatures to be 3° to 6°F cooler in tree-shaded neighborhoods than in treeless areas. A well-placed tree, shrub, or vine can deliver effective shade, act as a windbreak, and reduce overall energy bills.

Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of a typical household's energy for heating and cooling. Computer models from the Department of Energy predict that just three trees, properly placed around the house, can save an average household between $100 and $250 in heating and cooling energy costs annually.

Consider installing ceiling fans
On moderately warm days, fans can circulate enough air to keep you comfortable without air conditioning. Even on hotter days when you use the air conditioner, you can set your thermostat higher and save.

Upgrade to newer windows
If your home has single-pane windows, as almost half of U.S. homes do, consider replacing them. New double-pane windows with high-performance glass (e.g., low-e or spectrally selective) are available on the market. Windows with spectrally selective coatings on the glass reflect some of the sunlight, keeping your rooms cooler.