MT. VERNON — The dog days of summer are upon us, which means air conditioners are working on full blast to keep residents cool during the southern Illinois heat and humidity. One local utility provider is giving tips for how to conserve energy during this season of high energy use.

Angie Ostaszewski is an Energy Efficiency Advisor for Ameren Illinois. She says turning your thermostat up while you are not home does save energy and dollars of your power bill.

Ostaszewski says you should also look at switching your ceiling fan’s rotation based on the season. In the summer, your fan should rotate counter-clockwise, allowing it to push cooler air down and making the room feel cooler. She says there should be a button on your fan to switch its rotation.