Whether you are saving for a vacation or your next big purchase, these three simple steps will stretch your dollar and help you cut down your energy bill.

1. Adjusting your thermostat

• Set the thermostat and then forget it. If you change the temperature often during the day, you are more likely to waste energy.
• During the summer, try setting the thermostat at 78 degrees or above. If you have a ceiling fan, you may be able to raise the temperature to 80 degrees or higher.
• Avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense.

2. Use fans effectively.

The “wind chill” effect of fans allows the air conditioner thermostat to be set slightly higher while maintaining the same degree of comfort for room occupants.

For example, you can adjust the setting on your thermostat from 78 degrees to 80 degrees and still keep the occupants comfortable. This small increase can result in a reduction of up to 10 percent in air conditioning energy use, and the cost of running the ceiling fan is minimal.

3. Cut hot water consumption

• When you hand wash dishes, stopper the sink or use a dishpan. Constantly running wash or rinse water amounts to about 30 gallons of water per meal. Be sure to pre-rinse dishes with cold water.
• Equip your shower with a flow control or regulator and you can reduce the volume of water by 2 gallons to 4 gallons per minute, while increasing pressure to 30 pounds per square inch. Look for these devices at your local hardware store.
• Repair dripping faucets and save water, energy and money. Dripping faucets overwork the water heater, erode valve seats and often cause ugly sink stains.
• Turn down the thermostat on your water heater to 140 degrees, or to 120 degrees if you don’t use a dishwasher.

For more cost-saving tips, visit www.alabamapower.com/tips.