Using an air conditioner to stay cool can take a big bite out of household budgets.
Fortunately, there are other ways to help cool your home that also will cut your costs. Additionally, there are steps you can take to improve your home’s energy efficiency, taking a load off your air conditioner and in turn saving money.
Following are proven tips for lowering the cost of keeping cool.
1. Use a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat makes it easy to set the temperature higher during hours when you don’t need it, such as when you’re at work. This will save energy and thus money.
2. Keep the air conditioner in tip-top shape
Keeping air-conditioner units at maximum efficiency by having them regularly serviced helps whittle energy bills.
If you want to do it yourself, Energy.gov suggests cleaning the evaporator coil and condenser coil of dirt and debris. Also ensure coil fins aren’t blocking airflow with a fin comb, and keep the condensate drain unclogged.
Lastly, clean or replace filters regularly when the units are in use. Dirty filters block the airflow, making the unit draw more power and work harder.
3. Install solar screens
Cool your home by putting solar screens on the windows that get the most sun. They can reduce not only solar heat gain but also UV damage and glare, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. (Solar heat gain refers to radiation from the sun that is turned into heat and absorbed by an object like a window, allowing that heat to pass through the object.)
Solar screens can be installed on the inside or outside of windows. They look like insect screens but are designed to improve energy efficiency.
Since the mesh comes in varying densities, shop around at hardware stores to decide which is best for you before buying.
4. Put up window awnings
Install awnings outside above your warmest windows to shade them from the sun’s rays.
They can reduce solar heat gain in the summer by up to 65% on south-facing windows and 77% on west-facing windows, according to the Department of Energy.
5. Hang shutters or roll-up shades
Inexpensive outdoor roll-up shades, often made of bamboo or vinyl, block heat. Hang them outside windows on the sunny side of your home. They are generally rolled up and down manually.
Shutters — in vinyl, composite, wood or natural-fiber woven material — also block the sun. They are most effective at reducing solar heat gain, according to the Department of Energy.
6. Seal ducts
In homes with forced-air central cooling, a duct system with holes and leaks can waste 20% or more of the energy used to cool your home, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program.
Hire a contractor to check for and seal leaks, or seal any you find yourself.
7. Seal windows and doors
Expensively cooled indoor air can leak from windows and doors. The Department of Energy’s website has articles about caulking and weatherstripping, with tips on how to tighten the seals around your doors and windows.
8. Do an energy audit
Also check out the Department of Energy’s site to learn how to conduct an energy audit, which can help you find other inefficiencies.
Or, see if local utility companies offer free energy audits. Florida Power & Light, for example, offers free audits. During these audits, an FPL energy expert inspects a home’s energy usage and offers tips on how to maximize the home’s energy efficiency.
9. Close the drapes
In the heat of the day during summer, keep drapes and blinds closed on windows that face the sun.
Consider lining draperies with light-colored fabric that reflects the sun’s heat. Studies have found that medium-colored drapes with white plastic backings can reduce heat gains by 33%, according to the Department of Energy.
10. Plant deciduous trees
Plant large leafy deciduous trees, which lose their leaves in the fall, on the east, west and northwest sides of your home to help shade it from the sun. This can lower summertime air conditioning costs by up to 35%, according to the Arbor Day Foundation. But in winter, the bare branches will let the sunshine through to help warm the home.
Also consider locating trees or shrubs in other spots where their shade can help, such as near air-conditioning units, patios, driveways and walkways.
11. Stay cool with freestanding fans
Air blowing across the skin cools the body by evaporating moisture. When using a fan, direct the breeze at yourself and keep a spritz bottle close, misting yourself occasionally.
Or, make a personal A/C — for directions, check out “How to Build Your Own DIY Air Conditioner in Minutes.”
12. Use an attic fan
Attic fans help pull in cooler outside air and push out warm air through attic vents, taking a load off your air conditioner. Not only does this save on cooling costs but it can also discourage mold, which can come with its own costs.
For more tips on keeping cool, read “5 Unusual but Effective Tips to Stay Cool Without A/C.”
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