Consumers Energy Offers 6 Ideas To Keep Cooling Cost Down

With temperatures headed into the 90s in Michigan this week, Consumers Energy sent along information to help both residential and businesses consumers control their energy costs and still stay cool and safe.

“People have the power to lower energy costs even on the hottest days of the year,” said Brian Rich, Consumers Energy’s senior vice president of customer experience and chief information officer.

“We expect our customers’ energy use this week will be one third higher than average" Rich said in the same release.

Here are six tips for keeping your cooling cost controlled:

• Set the air conditioning thermostat for your home or business at 78 degrees during the day and higher when you’re away.
• Don’t cool unused areas. Close doors and registers to cut energy costs.
• Block the summer sun: Close drapes, shades and blinds during the heat of the day to reduce your heat gain.
• In the heat of the day, avoid using appliances that generate a lot of heat, such as stoves and clothes dryers.
• Get a tune-up to be sure your air conditioning is operating at peak efficiency. Keep the coils clean on your air conditioner. Clean the filter routinely.
• Remember: A ceiling fan cools fast and costs less than air conditioning.

Consumers Energy website offers information for households online at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/SaveEnergy.

Consumers Energy also offers tools to help businesses use less energy at http://businessmatters.consumersenergy.com/calculators: