Sultry summer temperatures might make it hard to stay cool, but you need to resist the urge to drastically lower your thermostat. We recommend a summer thermostat setting no lower than 78 degrees for energy conservation. While that may not seem low enough on the hottest days, your air conditioning unit may never be able to reach your ideal comfort level, yet it will keep trying, the meter will keep turning, and your electric bill will keep going up.

If you want to shave costs another way, be careful about how and when you use your clothes dryer and other heat-generating appliances. The dryer is a big contributor to the cost of electricity for your home. Not only is it generating heat, it is sucking the cool air out of your house. Don’t dry clothes during the hottest part of the day, and run the dryer only as long as necessary. Keep dryer vents and filters clean. Another way to save is hang laundry outside to dry.

Other high energy users are stoves and water heaters. Rather than cook indoors on hot days, fire up the grill. Shorten your showers and leave the bathroom exhaust fan on only long enough to remove the moisture. You don’t want it pulling out any precious cool air. Install low-flow showerheads. You'll be surprised how much this simple device can cut your hot water costs.

Here are a few more money saving ideas that will help you keep your cool.

• Turn off lights you aren’t using. If you are still using old, incandescent bulbs, it’s time to replace them with energy-efficient, LEDs.

• Do only full loads when using your dishwasher and clothes washer.

• Close draperies and blinds on any windows that allow direct sunlight to come into the house.

• Make sure windows and doors are tightly closed.

• Station fans in areas where you spend the most time.

The breeze created by a fan speeds the evaporation of perspiration on human skin, which makes the body's natural cooling mechanism much more efficient. For ceiling fans, the direction of the blade rotation should be set so that air is blown downward. Since fans work directly on the body rather than by changing the temperature of the air, it is a waste of electricity to have fans on when no one is in a room.