Portland General Electric : With summer temperatures expected to soar this weekend, PGE offers simple tips to stay cool and save energy

Portland, Ore. - More than 80 percent of PGE residential customers have air conditioning. While AC units keep homes cool and comfortable, they increase electricity use, which can increase energy bills. Fortunately, with or without air conditioning, there are many low- or no-cost ways of keeping cool. For energy saving tips all summer long, follow PGE on Facebook at Facebook/PortlandGeneralElectric.

• PGE's free Energy Tracker online report shows how much energy you're using and how much you're saving. Visit PortlandGeneral.com/EnergyTracker.
• If it's safe, open windows during cool nights and early mornings. Monitor outside temperatures; when it warms up to 75 degrees, close the windows and use an indoor fan (portable or ceiling).
• Set the central air thermostat to 75 degrees (instead of 70 degrees). This results in an estimated energy savings of 115 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month and an estimated monthly savings of $13.
• Close curtains on sun-facing windows, and use white window shades, drapes or blinds to reflect heat away from the house.
• When cooling the whole house with an air conditioner, be sure to keep all windows and doors closed. When cooling a single room with a window AC unit, be sure to close all windows and doors in that room to keep the unit running more efficiently.
• Whether or not you have air conditioning, avoid cooking with a stove or conventional oven. Heat from these appliances affects indoor temperatures. Instead, use a microwave or barbecue outdoors.
• Consider turning off the air conditioning and running a portable window fan overnight for 12 hours instead. For an average home with air conditioning, this results in an estimated energy savings of 335 kwh per month and an estimated monthly savings of $38.
• Replace old incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs. These use 80 percent less energy and are available in warm white or daylight colors.
• Check for the Energy Star(R) logo when shopping for a new air conditioner, and consider an energy-efficient heat pump. It's the most efficient way to heat and cool your home.

For long-term energy savings, consider installing a Nest learning thermostat. They're proven energy savers right out of the box, and -- with ducted air conditioning -- Energy Trust of Oregon has a $50 incentive, and PGE's Summer Rush Hour Rewards provides an additional $25 savings.

Look for other energy saving tips at PortlandGeneral.com/Energy, or contact a PGE Energy Services representative at 800-722-9287.