Summer is here! While we're pretty excited about the return of warmer weather we're not really looking forward to the cooling costs for the next 5 months. Here's one of the biggest money-saving tips for cooling costs in the summer months.

Is your ceiling fan turning the right way for the season?

Depending on the time of year a ceiling fan can be a great help when cooling a home. Most fans come with a switch on the base and knowing which position it's in can save you big money on cooling costs.

In the summer months, your fan should be running forward - or counter-clockwise. Forcing the room air down gives you the cooling effect. This simple action can save you up to 15% (some experts say up to 30%) on cooling costs.

In the cold winter months, your fan should be running in reverse - or clockwise on low speed. Warm air rises, right? This will draw the room air up toward the ceiling and force the warm air out towards the walls.

To recap:

Summer: counter-clockwise

Winter: clockwise

Other tips for summer include:

  • Turning lights off when you leave.
  • Closing curtains or blinds to keep sun out when you're gone.
  • Installing a smart thermostat. Example, set it a little higher when your out all day and program it to cool down before you arrive back home.
  • Avoid turning on the oven and use the grill more.
  • Have your A/C tuned up by a professional.

Happy summer!

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Life on a Cattle Ranch in Western South Dakota

Life is different out in the country. One look at the photo from Robin Bickel and you quickly realize that a workday is quite different as well, after all, she lives out west in South Dakota Cattle Country.

Robin Bickel took time to tell KIKN Country a little bit about her life out west and life as a woman, working outdoors with animals and nature in God's Country. Bickel lives and works on a cattle ranch operated by herself, her father, Jack, and his brother Keith. How far out in the country is she? How does 50 miles west of Mobridge, South Dakota sound? Yep, mountain time out there.

Life is so different in Sioux Falls, South Dakota compared to what our friends on the farm and ranches deal with. It's a half-mile to the grocery store for our family. For Robin, it's 17 miles. However, it's a quick step out her door and she's right in the middle of where a lot of the groceries come from.


Sioux Falls Through The Generations

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