Keeping your home cool in the summer heat without raising your air conditioning bill is difficult. Here are a few helpful ways to cut down on the cost that may not have occurred to you.

78 Degrees
If you have air conditioning, there is no sense in setting your air below 78 degrees, as that is as cold as they can run. Turning it below will eventually make it that temperature, but only because it will run longer, not colder. This is where your bill really racks up.

Room Specific Cooling
If you have just one central cooling system, pick the rooms you want colder, such as your bedroom or entertainment room. In all the other rooms, locate and shut the AC vents in the ceiling and floor. Now you can turn your AC temp up to around 82 allowing for maximum efficiency as it will take longer to cool the room to an inexpensive temperature while the areas you do have open will cool quickly and effectively, much below 82 degrees.

Attic Ventilation
If you have an attic, you know it gets hot in there during the summer. In fact, it can reach up to 150 degrees. To help your AC bill out, install an attic ventilation system. This is as simple as investing fifty bucks into a louvered gable vent to let the attic breathe, lowering the cost of keeping the rest of the house cool.

Shade AC
Wherever your AC unit is, make sure it is shaded. If need be, transplant a tree to provide a cooler atmosphere for it to work most efficiently. Your unit ought to be on the northern or eastern side of your home allowing the side of the house to shade in the peak afternoon hours. Also, be sure your AC unit is able to “breathe” without any leaves or tarps hindering its ventilation path.

Hot Water Activities
Running hot water from the sink, shower, dishwasher, or washing machine all contribute greatly to the cost of cooling your home. It helps to do these activities, if possible, in the cool of the morning or late in the evening where it is dissipated easier. Shower with the windows upon (if using hot water). Also attaching an insulator to your hot eater heater can prevent some additional heat.