1. Make sure your thermostat is set to auto. If you keep it set to on then the air conditioning is running 24/7 and constantly on. This will make an exponential difference on your utility bill each month.
2. Turn off the ceiling fan. At least when you are not home. These do not actually cool your house but instead circulate the air to make it feel cooler. So when you leave for class or to go home for the weekend make sure you are turning your fan off before you leave to save electricity.
3. Check your refrigerator and freezer temperature. The ideal refrigerator temperate runs between 37 and 40 degrees, and the ideal freezer reading is 5 degrees. It is also better to keep your refrigerator and freezer full because then they do not have to work as hard to stay cold.
4. Run your appliances in the evening whenever possible. Especially on a hot day in Florida this can make a big difference. This is because your appliances produce heat; this in turn causes your air conditioning to work harder to keep your apartment cooler.
5. Close your blinds or curtains in your apartment. This will help keep your apartment cooler on those hot, sunny Florida days. By doing this it will also keep your air conditioning from running as much in turn allowing your electricity bill to be lower.