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Tips for Cooling Your Home
 No Cost
- Save up to 3% on your cooling costs for every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer. For example, raising it from 73 to 78 degrees can save up to 15% in cooling costs.
- Do not let the air conditioner bake in the sun. Room air conditioners work best when kept out of direct sunlight. Install them near shade trees or on the north side of the house if possible.
- Seal gaps along the sides of your air conditioner to keep the outside air from seeping in.
- Clean air conditioner filters regularly, keep the front and back of air conditioners unobstructed.
- In warmer weather, delay heat-producing tasks, such as dishwashing, baking, or doing laundry, until the cooler evening hours.
- Use an exhaust fan to blow hot air out of your kitchen while cooking. The savings in your cooling costs far outweigh the electricity use of the fan.
- Instead of an air conditioner, open windows on opposite sides of the house for cross-ventilation.
- Use fans in your windows to draw in cooler night air. Close the windows during the day to keep the cooler air in.
- Close window blinds or drapes in the daytime summer hours. Sunlight shining in windows usually adds the largest amount of unwanted summertime heat. During the hottest weather, keep windows closed to keep hot air from blowing into your home. In the evening and early in the morning, open windows to allow cooler air in.
 Low Cost
- Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs). Standard incandescent light bulbs lose 90% of their energy as heat. CFLs produce only a fraction of the heat and do not waste electricity.
Good Investment
- If you are going to buy a room air conditioner, look for the ENERGY STARŪ label. ENERGY STARŪ room air conditioners exceed minimum federal standards for energy consumption by at least 10%.
- Plant shade trees to block heat from your windows and roof.
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