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Cut Expenses - 10 Ways to Cut Home Cooling Expenses

1. Plant trees

The most effective way to keep your home cool is to prevent the heat from building up in the first place. A primary source of heat buildup is sunlight absorbed by your home's roof, walls, and windows. The solution: Plant trees or shrubs to shade the air-conditioning unit(s). According to the Department of Energy, just three properly placed trees can save an average household between $100 and $250 in cooling costs annually.

2. Install a programmable thermostat.

According to the Department of Energy, you can save as much as 10% a year on your cooling bill by simply turning your thermostat back 10% to 15% for 8 hours. You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing a programmable thermostat. This allows you to adjust the temperature according to a pre-set schedule.

As a result, you don't operate the equipment as much when you are asleep or when the house is not occupied. Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple six or more temperature settings a day. You have added flexibility in that you can manually override one setting without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program.

3. Set your thermostat as high as is comfortable.

The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. Try keeping the thermostat set at 78°. According to the Department of Energy, for every degree you raise the thermostat setting, you can save up to 3% on your cooling bill.

4. Clean or replace furnace filters once a month, or as needed.

5. Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators.

Make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes. A dirty or clogged filter reduces the efficiency of your system and increases cooling costs.

6. Limit use of exhaust fans.

In just one hour, these fans can send a houseful of cooled air outdoors. Turn the fan off as soon as it has done its job.

7. Use draperies.

Keep the draperies and shades on your south facing windows closed during the day to prevent sunlight from entering your home.

8. Close off unused room.

Close unoccupied rooms that are isolated from the rest of the house, and close the vents in those rooms.

9. Remove grass, weeds, and leaves from around the outdoor unit of your cooling system.

When airflow is blocked, it puts a strain on the system, lowers efficiency and increases cooling costs.

10. Shade room air conditioners from direct sunlight.

This reduces their workload and lowers cooling costs.

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