Man and woman looking at a bill

If your cooling bill is on the rise this summer, you’re not alone. MidAmerican Energy got approval this summer to raise rates over the next three years.

Fortunately, there’s something you can do about the rising cost of heating and cooling your home. Here are four things you can do to lower your energy bill in a matter of minutes.

1. Turn up your thermostat. Turn up your thermostat a degree or two, or make sure it’s turned up while you are away at work and asleep. The ideal temperature for your house in summer is 78 degrees.

2. Change your filter. A dirty filter makes your cooling system work harder and costs you money (as well as wear and tear on the system). Put in a new filter every month. And don’t worry about getting the super-expensive ones. A middle-of-the road filter will work just fine.

3. Turn down your water heater. Your water heater is one of the biggest energy hogs in your house. You’ll save five percent on your energy bill for every 10 degrees you turn it down. And you won’t burn yourself in the shower.

4. Call Kohles & Bach at 515-278-2900. Our maintenance plan will keep both your air conditioner and your furnace running at maximum efficiency all year long. And if your system is more than 10 years old, it may be time to think about installing a new high-efficiency air conditioner and furnace. You’ll save up to 20 percent over a 10-year-old model.