News Release

June 27, 2003

20 Tips For Keeping Your Cool This Summer,
and Your Energy Bill Under Control

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NEWS MEDIA CONTACT Susan Sponar Telephone: (505) 241-2768

Albuquerque: With summer high temperatures upon us, PNM suggests 20 simple ways to keep your cool this summer without your energy bill getting too hot to handle:

1. Keep your air conditioner clean and in good working order. This includes changing swamp cooler pads on a regular basis.
2. Install and use ceiling fans. Remember to set the blades in the summertime so the air blows downward (the leading edge of the blade will be pointing up).
3. Match the size of the fan to the size of the room. A 12-by-12 foot room can use a 36- or 42-inch fan. For rooms up to 12-by-18 feet, a 48- or 52-inch fan is appropriate.
4. Close heating-only air-duct registers, fireplace dampers and doorways to basements.
5. Keep doors to unused rooms closed.
6. Complete tasks that may generate heat (cooking, cleaning, laundry) in the early morning or evening.
7. Use bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans midday to get rid of heat and humidity.
8. Open windows during cool evening hours, and let the outside air — rather than your air conditioner — cool your home.
9. Use the low speed on your evaporative cooler whenever possible. It uses significantly less energy than higher speeds.
10. Close blinds and curtains on the sunny side of the house.
11. Use trees, trellises or awnings to block the sun and help cool the exterior of your house.
12. Set your thermostat as high as comfort permits, so that your air conditioner doesn't have to work so hard.
13. Properly insulate and ventilate your attic, allowing warm air to escape through your roof.
14. Turn off your air conditioner when you are away. Install a programmable thermostat that can turn on the air conditioner or swamp cooler shortly before you get home.
15. Don't put appliances that generate heat, like lamps and television sets, under your wall-mounted cooling thermostat. The heat rising from them can cause the thermostat to read a temperature higher than the actual room temperature, resulting in overcooling the entire house.
16. With evaporative coolers, crack open windows in rooms where you want cool air to flow.
17. Weather-strip windows and doors. This can keep cool air in during the summer and prevent escape of warmed air in the winter.
18. Hang clothes out on the line to dry.
19. Turn off all lights and appliances — including the TV — when not in use.
20. Use a microwave or outdoor grill for cooking when possible.

Each home and business is different. More detailed energy-saving information can be found in the "My Home" section of PNM.com.

PNM is the principal subsidiary of PNM Resources, an energy holding company based in Albuquerque. PNM provides natural gas service to 441,000 gas customers and electric utility service to 385,000 customers in New Mexico. The company also sells power on the wholesale market in the Western U.S. PNM Resources stock is traded primarily on the NYSE under the symbol PNM.