MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Although summer break brings joy to children across the state, it can also mean more people in your home during the day, leading to more energy use and higher utility bills. Santee Cooper suggests you use the following tips to educate your kids about energy efficiency, and to help keep your energy bills from climbing.

“Even though school is out, you can teach the kids an energy efficiency lesson at home,” said Mike Poston, vice president of Retail Services. “Helping children understand the impact of standing in the kitchen with the refrigerator door open or leaving their computers on can help you save money and energy this summer.”

Start the lesson with a reminder about closing doors. Whether it’s the front door, a sliding glass door or the door to your garage, keeping doors open in the summer when the air conditioning is running will significantly increase energy use. Encourage your kids to come in and out of your home quickly in order to leave the cool air inside and the warm air outside.

Those aren’t the only doors that need to stay closed. Kids regularly hold refrigerator or freezer doors open while trying to decide what snacks to choose, which can increase your utility bill. Tell them to figure out what Popsicle flavor they want before opening the freezer door and to close the door tightly when they’re finished.

Remind children to turn out the lights before leaving for the pool or a friend’s house. You should also consider replacing old incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). CFLs use significantly less energy than traditional bulbs.

Teach children to unplug cell phone chargers and computers, including monitors and printers, when they’re not using them. Many of these items continue to use electricity even when they’re turned off. Lastly, send them to Santee Cooper’s energy efficiency website, www.ReduceTheUse.com, for additional summer reading.

Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s state-owned electric and water utility, and the state’s largest power producer. The ultimate source of electricity for 2 million South Carolinians, Santee Cooper is dedicated to being the state’s leading resource for improving the quality of life for the people of South Carolina. For more information, visit www.santeecooper.com.