Energy Efficiency

Install a programmable thermostat.
During the summer, program it to 78-80 degrees when you are home. Program it to increase temperature about 5 degrees while you're gone and to return to a comfortable temperature shortly before you return home. Both SRP and APS have 'time-of-use' plans in which electricity costs more during certain hours. Program your thermostat to move to a higher but comfortable temperature during those high-peak hours. For every degree you set your thermostat above 80 degrees, you can save approximately 2-3% on cooling costs.

Have Regular Maintenance.
Have your cooling system serviced by a qualified contractor at least once a year to ensure the system is operating at peak efficiency.

Change your air filters (or clean your permanent filters) at least once a month.

Set the fan on your thermostat to AUTO rather than the ON setting.
This allows the fan to turn off when the system is not cooling. According to SRP, Using "Auto," rather than "On," can save you $15-25 each month on your energy costs.

Leave at least 90% of your air vents open.
People sometimes think it will save energy to close vents in rooms not being occupied. The opposite is true. Closing too many vents in your home can reduce the effectiveness of your cooling system.

Replace your cooling system with a more efficient model.
The efficiency of heat pumps and air conditioners is indicated by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). According to SRP, replacing a 10- to 15-year-old unit with a properly sized new 13 SEER system can save you as much as 40-45% on your air conditioning bill.

Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.
According to APS, if you change out five of your most frequently used bulbs, say 100-watt incandescents to 25-watt CFLs, you can expect to realize more than $46 in annual electricity savings.