9 Simple Things You Can do to Combat "Local Warming"

Okay, so maybe global warming hasn't impacted you much yet.  But what about "local warming"?  

Here are a few things you can do to keep cool, while saving a little money, in the dog days of summer.  (You may already be doing many of these, but a little reminder doesn't hurt.)

•    Turn off the lights when you leave rooms.  (Your mother was right!)
•    Shut down computers when you leave the house or go to bed.  They put off a lot of heat.
•    Install nightlights in hallways so you don't have to turn on larger lights when you get up at night.
•    Replace incandescent bulbs with those coiled, curly energy-efficient bulbs.
•    Unplug equipment, such as TVs and stereos, when not in use.
•    Run washer, dryer, and dishwasher on energy-conserve settings.
•    Use window shades or blinds to block out the sun, so solar energy isn't constantly beating down through your windows and warming up the house.
•    Remedy drafts by caulking gaps in windows and floorboards
•    And of course, when the AC is on, keep windows and doors close.

You've heard the saying, "Think globally, act locally."  Small "efficiency adjustments" like these won't change the world of course.  But they will help to make things a little cooler and more affordable in your world.