CAPITAL REGION — During the winter, New Yorkers worry about high heating costs.

Now that winter is over and warmer weather is on the way, it’s time to switch gears and start worrying about high cooling costs.

Experts say there are a number of simple, low-cost ways to conserve energy and reduce energy costs; many of these things can be done in the home, with a minimum of effort. And for people interested in making a bigger investment, there are options, too.

“There are all sorts of energy-saving opportunities,” said Laura Haight, senior environmental associate at the New York Public Interest Research Group.

Many of the simpler energy-saving tips may sound insignificant, but over the long haul they add up, said Jackson Morris, air and energy program associate for Albany-based Environmental Advocates of New York. “If you do all of it, you’ll see significant savings,” he said.

Last week, New York Public Service Commission Chairman Garry Brown told utility officials that consumers will face higher energy bills as a result of worldwide demand for fuel.

Unnecessary cooling costs money, and people should use their air conditioning — a major contributor to one’s electrical bill — as little as possible.

If you must use air conditioning, you should shut it off at night, open the windows, and let the outside air circulate through the house. And when the air conditioning is on, doors and windows should be kept closed. Ceiling and window fans can also keep a house cool, and changing the air conditioner filter once a month is also a good idea.

Shading the house can also help keep it cool, and there are a number of things people can do to mitigate the effects of the hot sun. Some of these can be done immediately, while others, such as planting trees in crucial locations, will take time. “You want the shades and drapes closed,” Morris said. “When it’s hot and the sun is beating down, the house will heat up like a greenhouse.” Installing awnings over windows will also help.

Another way to keep a house cool is to avoid heating it up in the first place.

Covering pots on the stove will heat food faster, which uses less energy and also sends less heat into the room. It’s best to use the microwave, which releases less heat than an oven, whenever possible. And cooking outdoors keeps heat outside.

Morris and Haight offered a number of tips that will save energy at any time of year.

other money savers

Turning off lights, switching to energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs and eliminating “phantom load” — the electric power consumed by electrical appliances, such as cell phones and stereos, while they are off or in standby mode — will result in a decent savings. “In my house, I unplug everything,” Morris said. When you start using compact fluorescent light bulbs, “it really is a savings,” he said. “You see it on your first bill.”

Insulation, Morris pointed out, is effective in both summer and winter; a well-insulated house will stay cooler during hot months. Haight recommended people caulk around windows to seal cracks and install vinyl weather-stripping; these steps will help make a house airtight. “By properly weatherproofing your home, you’ll save big bucks in winter and cooling costs,” she said.

Haight also mentioned ways to save money outside of the home. Not driving over 60 miles per hour saves gas; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that for every 5 miles per hour a person drives over 60, they’re wasting about 20 cents’ worth of gasoline per gallon. Driving slower, and making sure tires are properly inflated, can save as much as $1 a gallon, she said. She also suggested people consider taking vacations closer to home, and using buses or trains to get to their destination. “You can go to the Adirondacks, and it’s gorgeous,” she said. “Why go to Maine? Take the train to Montreal, and have a break in another country.”

When replacing appliances, people look for the Energy Star label; such appliances might be more expensive than those without the label, but also more efficient. Moore said a buyer will quickly recoup the extra cost through the increased savings. He added that there are “great incentives” for installing solar panels, “if someone is looking to invest a little more money than just doing stuff around the house.”

Both Morris and Haight support the expansion of “smart metering,” which would allow consumers to look at a computer screen in their homes and see how much electricity they’re using and how much it costs. Two years ago, the PSC asked utilities throughout the state to develop plans to install “smart meters” in the homes of New York residents. Because the price of electricity changes depending on demand, smart meters would allow customers to see when it’s most expensive to use a heavy appliance, such as the dishwasher, and pick a cheaper time. Energy prices often spike during periods of high demand, when the power grid is stressed.

For more information, visit the New York State Research and Development Authority website at http://www.getenergysmart.org/.