INSULATE YOUR BUDGET FROM HIGHER ELECTRICITY COSTS

Enjoy these mild temperatures while you can as Mother Nature will soon be turning up the heat here in South Texas. Before you turn the air conditioner on, make sure you've done what you can to insulate your home and your budget.

"There are some simple ways to spend less, but others involve some work," said Kim Womack of Consumer Credit Counseling Service. "Get started now while the weather is pleasant so you can jumpstart your savings," urged Womack, director of education.

Keep your gas and electric bills under control by taking an overall look at your home energy needs. CCCS offers energy saving tips to help you increase savings:

Climate Control & Lighting

-Start with setting your thermostat at a low but comfortable setting. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, over 24-hours, you can save as much as 3% on your heating bill for every 1degree that you lower the thermostat. In the summer, raise the temperature a degree or two. Remember to dress inside according to the weather outside. -It's not too late to weatherize your home - check caulking and weather-strips around doors and windows for leaking air. Check insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior walls, and floors. Use door "socks" to repel drafts under exterior and interior doors with gaps too big to weather-strip. -Make sure heating/cooling equipment is properly maintained and cleaned, and filters are replaced regularly. Poor maintenance and dirty filters lowers operating efficiency and increases poor air quality. -Keep your window draperies and shades open during the day to let the sun in instead of turning on lights. If windows are drafty, consider caulking or replacing. Use ceiling and other fans to circulate the air. -Reduced lighting amounts to reduced electric bills. Except for safety lighting, turn off lights in empty rooms. Consider installing timers and using three-way lamps; they make it easier to keep lights off or at low lighting levels when brighter lights are not necessary. -Use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs); they are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last six to 10 times longer.

According to the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, a typical U.S. family spends close to $1,300 yearly on utility bills. For persons or families on tight budgets, Womack suggests considering payment "average monthly payment" plans. "This kind of payment option takes the guess-work out of planning for monthly utility expenses," said Womack. "You can also change your due date to take less of a bite out of your available cash."

For more energy saving measures, CCCS suggests an efficiency home audit. "In-home energy audits are often free or very affordable and usually worth every penny," said Womack. If your electricity carrier won't do an energy inspection, ask for their advice or additional materials, she added.

Womack also suggests consumers contact CCCS to receive free financial management assistance through certified counselors, trained in money management services. Call CCCS or visit their web site at www.cccsstx.org.