According to the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), saving energy this summer just got easier. America's electric utilities have put together the following 10 no-, low-cost tips to guide you. With each tip are the potential energy savings you can expect. Besides saving energy, you will be making your home more comfortable, and you will be helping to protect the environment too.

• Set thermostat at 78 degrees or higher when the house is occupied and at 85 degrees when vacant (save up to 2 percent per degree raised on cooling costs).
• Regularly clean/replace your air conditioner's air filter (save up to 5 percent on annual energy costs).
• Keep the door and vents closed in unused rooms (save up to 3 percent on cooling costs).
• On hot, sunny days, keep the curtains closed on windows facing south and west (save up to 4 percent on cooling costs).
• Caulk and weather-strip around your windows and doors (save up to 4 percent on cooling costs).
• Wash/dry full loads of clothes and use cold water as much as possible (save up 4 percent on energy costs).
• Set the water heater's temperature to 120 degrees (save up to 10 percent on water heating costs; check by placing a thermometer under a tap).
• Use a microwave oven instead of a regular oven (save up to 50 percent on cooking costs).
• Install compact fluorescent lights in high-use fixtures (save about 66 percent on lighting cost per fixture).
• Take advantage of the new federal tax credits when making energy efficiency improvements to your home.

Have you ever heard of an energy audit? Simply by checking on a couple things around your house, you can save yourself hundreds in phone bills. Although you can pay for someone to do a professional energy audit, conducting one yourself can catch several problems. When conducting a energy audit yourself, you should:

• Check your light bulbs. Using bulbs that are a higher wattage than necessary wastes electricity.
• Locate air leaks. Common places for air leaks include: electrical outlets, switch plates,weather stripping around doors, window frames, fireplace dampers, baseboards, attic hatches and mounted air conditioners.
• Inspect your heating and cooling equipment at least once a year.
• Check the insulation in your walls, attic and basement.

If you are interested in performing a thorough energy audit, the U.S. Department of Energy Web site has a more detailed description.