Heating bills skyrocketed for many people last winter. We may soon be seeing the hot weather version of this dilemma as we crank up our air conditioners. Other than a hermit with no outside contact, everyone heard of the rolling black-outs in California last summer. People in other areas wonder, "Can the same thing start happening where we live?" While state and federal politicians determine how to solve the problem, the rest of us still have to deal with paying for indoor comfort.

There are ways to grab the energy tiger by the tail to keep it under control. In the 1970's (remember the energy crunch back then?) ceiling fans became popular. So did solar energy, to some degree.

Cleco Corporation, a regional energy services company headquartered in Pineville, understands that, since energy costs are higher than in recent years, it's more important than ever to conserve.

Here's some suggestions for warm weather energy savings from Cleco Corporation's website, www.cleco.com, one the of largest suppliers of electricity in Louisiana.

• Turn your thermostat up to 78 degrees. You could save 3 to 5 percent on ac costs for each degree you raise your thermostat.
• If you are leaving your home for more than a few hours, set your thermostat four degrees or more higher than normal.
• Be patient when you return home. Drastically lowering your thermostat setting won't cool your house any faster. It will only keep the unit running longer.
• Close blinds, curtains and drapes to keep out the sun's heat. In the evening, opening drapes and shades lets heat escape through the glass.
• Don't cool unoccupied rooms. Closing those air conditioning vents can save 5 to 10 percent on your cooling costs.
• Use fans where possible. Portable fans or ceiling fans can make you feel about 10 degrees cooler.
• Do not run refrigerators or freezers in non-air-conditioned areas, such as carports and garages. This can make appliances run continuously and can add a substantial amount to your energy bill.
• Where possible, replace incandescent light bulbs with a compact fluorescent bulbs. A 40-watt fluorescent bulb provides more light than a 100-watt incandescent bulb at half the energy cost.
• Try to avoid running your clothes dryer and dishwasher during the heat of the day. It only places additional strain on your air conditioner. Run the appliances at night if possible.
• Set your water heater thermostat no higher than 120 degrees.
• Wrap your water heater in an insulating blanket. If you have a gas water heater, you may want to seek professional assistance.
• Have a professional check your air conditioner to make sure it's running at peak efficiency.
• Clean or replace your air filter. Dirty filters strain your air conditioner and make it run longer.
• Crawl into your attic and inspect for insulation. Is there enough? You should have 6 to 9 inches of attic insulation.
• While you're in the attic, check your ducts for leaks. You could be wasting a lot of energy cooling your attic in the summer and warming it in the winter.
• Insulate hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.
• Caulk and weatherstrip around doors and windows.
• Caulk and seal where pipes come through exterior walls. Recessed ceiling lights are another cause of wasted energy.

Where your electricity goes

Nearly two-thirds of the electricity used in a typical home between May and October is consumed by the central air conditioning unit and electric water heater. So it makes sense to concentrate energy-saving efforts in those two areas. And if you're planning to build or buy a new home, check with your local utility company. Many offer discounted rates and/or rebates for meeting their energy-efficient qualifications.

One other thing to consider. If your air conditioning system needs to be replaced, installing a higher efficiency system can save big dollars, especially if your current unit is more than nine years old. The "SEER" rating is a measure of a unit's cooling efficiency. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The higher the SEER rating number, the more energy efficient the unit. In 1992, the government established the minimum rating for air conditioning at 10. The Department of Energy is currently considering a proposal to raise the minimum rating to 12 or 13. While you will pay more out front for the higher efficiencies, the savings on your utility bill will make up for the difference, sometimes rather quickly.

For instance the annual operating cost of a 4 ton, 10 SEER system is estimated at $750. The operating cost of a 4 ton, 12 SEER system is $620, while a 14 SEER system has an estimated operating cost of $535. These figures are based on an electricity cost of $.07 a Kilowatt hour at 2200 hours running time, average for the U.S. southern region.

Our casual research shows that these figures are rather conservative. We contact most of our customers who purchase high efficiency systems with us, to see whether they experience a return their investment. They usually are anxious to see results, comparing their utility bills from the previous year. Most report anywhere from a 30% to 50% reduction in energy consumption. Of course, as they say, results may vary. Temperatures and indoor environment, can vary from year to year. The bottom line is that higher efficiency systems can save you money.

- The Staff at Filter Solutions