Tips for keeping your home cool:

1. Close draperies or shades during the day to block the sun, especially on windows that face south or west. Open them in the evening to let cool air in but don't leave windows or doors open any longer than necessary.
2. Check filters to be sure they are clean. For central air, the filters are the same ones you check in the winter and are part of the furnace. For window units, they are behind the grill. Dirty filters limit air flow and force equipment to work harder and use more energy.
3. The condition of your duct work can make an impact. Ducts should be inspected and any leaks sealed by a certified contractor.  Use your set back thermostat so that the house is warmer when you aren't home during the day but cooler when you come home. In general, keep the thermostat set as high as you are comfortable.
4. Close off rooms that you aren't using and no more than 10% of your home's cooling duct registers to focus the cool on the rooms that you are using.
5. Don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn your air conditioner on. This uses much more energy than keeping the temperature at a constant setting.
6. Keep lights low or off to avoid generating excess heat in the home. Use heat-producing appliances like ovens and irons in the early morning or late evening hours whenever possible.
7. Don't place lamps or TVs near the air conditioning thermostat. The heat causes the thermostat to run the air conditioner unnecessarily.
8. Use a microwave, or better yet, barbeque. Both use less energy than cooking on the stove or in the oven.
9. A breeze on a summer day can sometimes be enough to keep you cool. Instead of turning on the air conditioner, open windows on opposite sides of the house for cross ventilation.
10. Portable fans and ceiling fans allow you to set your thermostat 4-5 degrees warmer without any discomfort.  Turns fans off when you leave the room.  Fans cool people they do not lower the room temperature.
11. Dress appropriately.  Wear lighter layers and let a fan cool you off when you are indoors.
12. Dry clothes and run dishwashers in the coolest part of the morning.
13. Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees F, use less water for showering.  Any water added to the air by showering or boiling water on the stove will require your AC to work harder.