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It's cooling season! The Alliance to Save Energy estimates that the average U.S. home will spend more than 2200 dollars on energy bills this year, and up to half of that money will go towards heating and cooling. As the outdoor temperature rises, keep it cool inside with simple, no- or low-cost home improvements. You'll reduce your home energy use and see savings on your next energy bill.
Window Coverings
No Cost: Close curtains, blinds, and shutters during the day - especially those on the sunny side of your home.
Low Cost: When replacing window shades, consider venetian blinds. Light-colored, reflective blinds can reduce heat build-up in your home by up to 50 percent!
Cooling Indoor Air
No Cost: If it cools off a night, try "convective cooling" - crack windows (one or two inches) on the lower level of your home. This will draw cooler nighttime air inside. (Wide-open windows let air in, but don't create a strong draft. Opening windows just a crack will create a breeze.)
Low Cost: Invest in a window fan or portable fan to increase the convective cooling effect. Place fans facing-out in upstairs windows to pull rising warm air out of your home.
Increasing A/C Efficiency
No Cost: Use the "recirculate" function on your AC system on hot days. This will recirculate cool-air in your home, rather than pulling-in and cooling warm air from outside.
Low Cost: Install a programmable thermostat. Program a higher temperature setting for times when you are not home or on vacation.
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