No one has to remind you that some triple-digit-temp days lie ahead, so you're always on the lookout for ways to better manage your energy bills.

First Quality Roofing & Insulation is on top of more than roofs; it's on top of energy-saving tips that produce results with the help of an authoritative source: the U.S. Department of Energy. Begin by attacking “the big four fundamentals” first to ensure you get the most from the other (and easier) ideas. Skipping any one of these four crucial tasks would be like buying premium tires for your car but then failing to inflate them properly: a move in the right direction but ultimately futile.

Emphasize the fundamentals first

• Schedule an attic inspection with First Quality Roofing & Insulation. Like those in many Las Vegas homes, your attic may contain insufficient insulation to keep your home cool. Installing Las Vegas home insulation is also one of the best investments you can make – the value of which even exceeds the cost, according to Remodeling magazine.

• Apply caulk and weather stripping to your doors and windows – the biggest source of energy loss in any home. Use caulk to fill cracks and holes on stationary parts and weather stripping around movable components.

• Reinforce and insulate your ducts – another potentially huge source of energy loss. Follow the winding trail of ducts in your crawlspace, attic and garage and look for cracks, holes, disconnects and drooping mastic tape.

• Schedule an annual air conditioner “tuneup.” Dirt and grime cause your air conditioner to run sluggishly; an annual tuneup will provide the cleaning and lubrication it needs to run efficiently and reliably. Remember to check the filter every 30 days and replace it when it's clogged with dust and dirt.

Now make the most of these energy-saving ideas

With new Las Vegas home insulation in place, your home properly sealed and your air conditioner humming along as it should, you'll be in a much better position to capitalize on these energy-saving ideas:

• Install a programmable thermostat, a nifty invention that allows you to set a thermostat hours, days and even a full week ahead of time. Particularly well suited to a summer home, a programmable thermostat can reduce your energy bill by as much as 10 percent when you raise the temperature between 7 and 10 degrees for at least eight hours at a time.

• Turn ceiling fans to spin in a counterclockwise direction so you can create a wind chill effect that will make you feel so cool that you should be able to turn up the thermostat by about 4 degrees – without noticing the difference.

• Switch to Energy Star light bulbs, which can last 10 times longer than traditional bulbs and save about $75 a year in energy costs.

• Wash clothes in cold water. Only 10 percent of the cost of running a washing machine goes to running the motor; 90 percent goes to heating the water.

• Keep window treatments closed during the day – or consider installing window film that will reflect heat before it can be transferred through the glass.
  
  Return to the beginning of this energy-saving process and take First Quality's quiz, “Could you benefit from new insulation?” And, as always, if you have questions, you know who to call because you know who's on top of Las Vegas home insulation – and Las Vegas roofs.