Work with your weather to bring
in outside air when it's cool.

Commonsense Cooling

Trying to manage household expenses in the summer can be a challenge -- the price of gasoline affects vacation travel, and your use of electricity to cool the house goes way up. Fortunately, there are ways to manage these pressures at home. Even though the U.S. Department of Energy predicts that electricity will stay high this summer, you can stay on top of it with low- or no-cost solutions. Then consider how new products can help you save much more in the long run.

Before you spend a thing, look at what you can do right now for little or nothing. Shade south- and west-facing windows. Cross-ventilate by opening windows on facing or adjacent walls at night when the outside temperature drops. Turn on a ceiling fan so you can raise the temperature setting on the air conditioner. (And turn off the ceiling fan when you leave the room.) Sign up if your utility company offers money back for cycling your air conditioner on and off during peak use periods. Power down your computer when not in use. Plant a tree.

If taking these steps seem obvious to you, good. Now just make sure you do them!

Next, make sure your house is sealed tight. Seal gaps and cracks with caulk and weather stripping, especially around windows and doors. Apply heat-blocking window film. Insulate and seal air-conditioning ducts, especially exposed ducts in the attic or crawlspace. Ventilate the attic with a thermostatically controlled fan in the gable end or on the roof. Operate your dryer in the morning when the conditioned air it vents to the outside hasn't taken so much electricity to cool. During hot summer days, close cooling vents in unused rooms.