Theglobalenergycrisisisapproaching.Whatcanwedo?Herearesomestepsyoucantake.

Coolingputsthegreateststressonyoursummerenergybillandthepowergrid（电网）.Justasatune-upforyourcarcanimproveyourgasmileageayearlytune-upyourheatingandcoolingsystemcanimproveefficiencyandcomfort.Cleanorreplacefiltersmonthlyorasneeded.

ForcentralairconditioningsystemsandroomsirconditionerslookfortheENERGYSTARthefederalgovernment’ssymbolforenergyefficiency.ForcentralairpurchasethesystemwiththehighestpossibleSeasonalEnergyEfficiencyRatio（SEER）.

Useenergy-efficientceilingfanseitheraloneorwithairconditioningCeilingfansdoagreatjobofcirculatingair.Whenusedwithairconditioningfansallowyoutoraisethethermostat（恒温器）andcutcosts.Ceilingfanscoolpeoplenotroomssobeforeyouleaveturnofftheceilingfan.

Letaprogrammableibermostat“rememberforyou”toautomaticallyadjusttheindoorclimatewithyourdailyandweekendpatternstoreducecoolingbillsbyupto10percent.Youcancomehometoacomfortablehousewithoutwastingenergyandcrestingpollutionalldaywhileyouareatwork.

Trytomakeyourhomeairtightenoughtoincreaseyourcomfortmakeyourhomequieterandcleanerandreduceyourcoolingcostsupto20percent.

Cutyourairconditioningloadandreducepollutionbyplantingleafytrees aroundyourhomeandfixingreflectivebricksonyourroof.

Closeblindsorshadesonsouth-andwest-facingwindowsduringthedayorfixshadingequipmenttoavoidbeatbuild-up.

Turnoffeverythingnotinuse:lightsTVscomputers.Andusefluorescentbulbs（荧光灯）whichprovidebrightwarmlightwhileusingatleasttwo-thirdslessenergyproducing70percentJessbeatandlastingupto10timeslongerthanincandescentbulbs（白炽灯）.

Drivethecarthatgetsbettergasmileagewheneverpossibleifyouownmorethanonevehicle.Ifyoudrive12500milesayearswitching10percentofyourtripsfromacarthatgets20milespergallontoonethatgets30mpgwillsaveyoumorethan$65peryear.

Carpool.TheaverageU.S.commutes（乘车上班族）couldsaveabout$260ayearbysharingcarstwiceaWeekwithtwootherpeopleinacarthatgets20.1mpg—assumingt