Let’s face it. It’s hot out there and it’s getting hotter. On these dog days of summer, many of us are turning to air conditioners for relief. In 2020, air conditioning accounted for 19% of the energy use in U.S. homes.

But, running your A/C all summer can be expensive. Data from the EPA and Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest air conditioning adds an average of $438 to Americans’ utility bills each year. And when millions of people ratchet up their energy use to cool their homes, it strains on our electric grid and increases pollution.

To help protect consumers from high utility bills and our environment from increased energy use during hot summer months, we’ve compiled some best practices that can help you keep your electric bill in check and keep you cool, regardless of what kind of weather summer dishes up.

Seven tips to staying cool while saving money on your electric bill

1. Install curtains or blinds on windows.

Most of the sunlight that enters our windows becomes heat in our homes. Light-colored curtains or blinds can help block that sunlight and reflect heat, keeping your home cool. If you’re on a budget, even just hanging a sheet over a sun-flooded window to block and reflect the light can make a big difference.

2. Cool your home naturally. 

If you live in a region where it’s cooler at night and in the morning, opening windows during those cooler nighttime hours and inviting that cool air inside can help lower the temperature of your home. You can use a window fan to blow cool night air into your home. Then, as the temperature climbs in the morning, close your windows, shut the blinds or curtains, and turn on your fans or A/C — which now won’t have to work as hard to keep your home comfortable.

3. Use fans.

Moving air creates a wind chill effect that cools your body. 

Ceiling fans are a great option to take the edge off hot summer days and use less energy than air conditioning units. Ceiling fans make a room feel cooler for its occupants by circulating warm air up and cool air down. You’ll want to make sure the blades of your ceiling fan are all slightly tilted. 

Box fans or standing fans are also good options to circulate air. If you want more cooling power from your fan, you can place a bucket of ice or a pan of cool water in front of your fan, which will create a cool mist as the ice melts. Adding salt to the ice can make the breeze feel even cooler. 

One important note about fans is that they don’t actually cool your room, but they cool people, as explained in this resource from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.  So if you’re leaving the house, turn your fans off so you’re not wasting energy.

4. Avoid using heat-producing appliances during day.

Appliances that produce heat while they’re working can counteract your best efforts of to keep your indoor air cool. Among the worst offenders are televisions, dishwashers, and clothes dryers. You can wait until the sun goes down and the outdoor air cools off to run your dishwasher and clothes dryer. And you can try to avoid using your stove altogether on the hottest days; instead, serve refreshing cool salads for dinner or grill outdoors.

If you’re in the market for new appliances, choose models with the Energy Star label. They’re guaranteed to be more energy efficient and put off less wasted heat than your old ones.

5. Tune up your A/C system and replace the filter.

If you have central A/C, seasonal tuneups can help keep your system running smoothly. If you can’t get an appointment with a technicians who would typically check refrigerant levels and clean cooling coils, one simple thing you can do is to change the system’s air filters yourself. If you haven’t done that in the last 3 months, we highly recommend. Changing your filter can help your A/C unit work more efficiently, lowering your energy use and therefore, your energy bill. 

6. Set your thermostat to 78 degrees.

According to the Edison Electric Institute, raising your thermostat by just one degree in the summer will decrease your electric bill by 2 percent. So, when it’s in the triple digits outside, setting your thermostat to 78 degrees offers a respite from the heat. If you wear loose-fitting clothes, drink plenty of water, and use fans to circulate air, you’ll find that 78 degrees is a comfortable temperature and it won’t force your A/C to work overtime, driving up your energy bills.

7. Make your home more energy efficient.

Taking steps to reduce energy waste in your home can lower bills, make your home more comfortable and reduce pollution. After all, the cleanest energy is the energy you never use in the first place. Our guide: How to weatherize your home offers a one-stop-shop with advice on where to start and basic DIY weatherization tips.

Our Citizens Guide to Reducing Energy Waste offers room by room ideas to reduce reduce your energy waste and become more energy efficient in your home.