Don’t add to the heat inside. Use appliances such as irons, washers, and dryers at night or early morning or eliminate the dryer altogether and use a clothesline instead. (Not running your appliances between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. also helps avoid brownouts.“A big source of heat is your stove,”  “So if you can, cook outdoors or microwave meals.” Microwaves use two-thirds less energy than stoves. Another option is using a toaster oven for baking. Because toaster ovens are so much smaller, they don’t warm up a kitchen like a conventional oven. And, depending on the model, you’ll be cutting your energy use in half. Turn off computers and other appliances when not in use. Left running, these can also generate unnecessary heat. You can also unplug these appliances when not in use to ensure you reduce your electric bill as well, because the small amount of power these pull while plugged in can add up on your bill over time.

Consider changing your bulbs. Incandescent light bulbs are heat generators, so many experts suggest switching them for energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs or halogen infrareds. Fluorescent “corkscrew” bulbs contain mercury, so consider the safety risks before putting them in children’s bedrooms, playrooms, or other places where they may be likely to break.

Use fans. When it cools down outside, place inexpensive portable fans in front of open windows to bring the cool air inside. And consider installing a ceiling fan if you don’t already have one. Attic fans also circulate cool air from outside through the house. Use ceiling or room fans even if you have an air conditioner. You can then set your thermostat higher because the air movement from the fan will help the room feel cooler.

Keep your refrigerator well stocked. Refrigerators that are full of food don’t warm up as quickly when the door is opened, so they require less energy to stay cool.

Wear clothes in natural fabrics. Fabrics such as cotton, hemp, and linen ‘breathe’ better than synthetic fibers and naturally wick moisture away from the body
Eat cool. Dine on salads and sandwiches instead of large, protein-rich meals when the weather is hot, as these can warm your body up. Oven- or stove-top cooking heats up your house as well.
Stay hydrated. Avoid alcohol and caffeine in the heat, as these can promote dehydration. Drink more water than usual or consider an electrolyte replacement drink if you’re sweating a lot.
Cool off with water. Soak your feet in a tub of cold water, put on a wet bandana, or take a cool shower. Keep a spray bottle of water in the refrigerator and spritz yourself regularly throughout the day.
Head down and out. When your home is at its hottest, remember that the basement is the coolest place in the house. Or plan outings to air-conditioned buildings such as the library or a movie theater during peak hot hours.

Keeping a Cool House From the Outside:

Shading from the inside with curtains and blinds is a good first step, but shading from the outside can be even better.One of the least expensive ways to do this is by installing awnings. The Department of Energy estimates that awnings can reduce solar heat gain the amount the temperature rises  in your house by as much as 77%. Patio covers can also shade from the outside.

Other more costly exterior shade options include woven mesh solar screens that hang outside, solar control windows, and reflective film on windows. Window film, which is actually a microscopic layer of metal that repels solar radiation, can block anywhere from 50% to 70% of solar heat.

Depending on where you live, two other cost-effective solutions can be a big help.
Dehumidifiers. In regions such as the Southeast, humidity makes hot air feel hotter than it actually is. “If you take the humidity out of the air, the temperature feels much cooler. “Dehumidifiers are not too expensive and they’re much more energy-efficient than a whole air conditioning system.”
Swamp coolers. In desert climates, people used to sleep in screened-in porches, sometimes hanging wet blankets or sheets inside the screen and using a fan to help draw the air through the moist fabric. Evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers, operate on the same principle. They draw in fresh air from the outside, pulling it in through moist pads and circulating it with a big fan.

Try some of these strategies for cutting costs and energy consumption with your air conditioning system.
Keep the filter clean. Dirty filters limit airflow and make the unit run longer. Clean or replace the filter every month or so during the summer.
Make sure your air conditioner is in good working order. Air conditioners require professional maintenance to keep them working effectively.Every couple of years, you want to have someone come in and do a tune-up.
Set your thermostat higher. Try it at 78 degrees when you’re home and 85 degrees when you’re out.
Install a programmable thermostat.If you set it to kick in an hour or half-hour before you get home, you won’t even notice, and you’ll be saving a lot of energy.
Shade your air conditioner. Don’t locate central air conditioners in direct sunlight. Place window units on the north side of your house, which remains more shaded. A shaded air conditioner uses up to 10% less energy to operate.
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