Ah, summertime – when the days are warm, the ocean breeze beckons, and the oven begins its annual battle with the air conditioner.

Feeding the family doesn’t stop when the hot weather gets here, so thankfully there are some easy ways to lessen the load on the appliance whose job it is to keep your home cool despite the menu.

Most people I know don’t need an excuse to fire-up the outdoor grill during the summer. But if you’re looking for a practical reason to cook outdoors, think about the energy savings.

Just the thought of heating an indoor oven to 350 degrees to cook a meal during the coming months is enough to make you want to head for your favorite restaurant.

When you add to that the extra cooling dollars required to maintain a comfortable 78 degrees indoors while cooking that meal, you can easily see why I’m suggesting an outdoor alternative.

Most of today’s modern gas grills are capable of doing much more than the ever-popular hot dogs and hamburgers of summers past.

By properly adjusting the grill’s burners, a steady cooking temperature can be maintained – providing the perfect oven for a cooked meal. In fact, many grill manufacturers list the optimal settings and provide great recipes right in the owner’s manual. Grill cook books abound, too, for even more tasty options.

On rainy days, when using an outdoor grill loses its appeal, why not try the microwave instead? The relatively fast cooking time will help to keep indoor temperatures down and, with a little practice, a good home-cooked meal can be minutes away.

So remember, when you use your outdoor grill this summer, you’re helping to keep your home cool and your energy costs down. Bon Appétit.

For more information or to read about other energy-saving tips, rebates and programs, click on “Energy Efficiency” in the left-side menu above.

In my next column, I’ll review more ways to stay cool and save energy this summer.