Making use of ceiling fans can help keep the indoor air cooler and feel refreshing. Using a ceiling fan allows you to raise the programmable thermostat by 4 degrees with little to no noticeable difference in comfort. But when you have a ceiling fan on in the room you’re in, remember to turn it off when you leave. Ceiling fans do not actually lower the air temperature; they keep us feeling cool because of the wind chill effect. Leaving a ceiling fan on in the room when nobody is in that room wastes energy and does little to keep your home cooler.

It’s common knowledge that a programmable thermostat is a smart investment to regulate temperatures in your home and keep your heating and cooling bills as low as possible. In the hot summer months, when you’re away during the day, set your thermostat to what the average high temperature will be for the day. When the difference between your indoor and outdoor temperature is small, it allows your HVAC system to work as efficiently as possible. So while the morning temps are cool, check to see what the average high is and set your thermostat for that temperature.

Local animal shelters are always in need of financial donations and volunteers to help find forever homes for the many animals they bring in. If you can’t donate money or time, the next best thing is to donate things they need. Collect newspapers and shredded paper from your office, which the shelters use to line cages. But many don’t accept shredded paper that has gone through the new machines that shred paper into tiny, confetti-style pieces instead of long strands. Most shelters do not want old T-shirts, pillowcases, sheets and towels; those items becomes trash and more work when they are donated.