Conserving electricity doesn’t just reduce your carbon footprint, it can help reduce your electric bill.

Follow these simple tips to trim your energy usage:

• Plant a tree. Trees help shade your home and keep it cool! Be sure to plant the right tree in the right place. Visit lcec.net/reliability/vegetation-management/planting-trees for information on tree planting and power lines.

• Keep the refrigerator shut. Be mindful of how much you open your fridge since you lose one-third of cold air each time that door opens.

• Choose the cold cycle. Washing your clothes in hot water can be pricey depending on how many loads you do in a week and what time of day you do them. Choose cold water to cut down on energy usage.

• Turn it off. Always turn off lights, ceiling fans, televisions or anything that uses electricity when not in use.

• Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs. As old light bulbs burn out, invest in either compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). These light bulbs use substantially less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs and last much longer. CFLs have a lifespan of 10,000-15,000 hours while LEDs last nearly 25,000-50,000 hours. Incandescent light bulbs last just 1,500 hours.

For more practical ways to conserve energy, visit the Energy Efficiency tab on lcec.net.