It's easy to install and use a
programmable thermostat. Do it!

Upgrade to Save

Now that you're learned (and followed!) the numerous no- and low-cost ways to cut your cooling costs, it's time to focus on upgrades. If your heating and cooling system is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it. Air-conditioning accounts for nearly half of your summer energy bill.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with Energy Star-qualified equipment and sealing your ducts can cut your energy bill by as much as 20 percent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (Energy Star was established in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce air pollution by giving consumers simple, energy-efficient choices.)

If your refrigerator is 10 years old or older, replace it. A new Energy Star-qualified refrigerator uses less than half the energy of a 10-year-old conventional model. Get rid of the old refrigerator in your basement or garage. It probably uses more energy than any other appliance in your home. That wastes money.

Go all out and replace your windows with low-emissivity glass (Low-E), which blocks radiant heat with a transparent coating. Install a whole-house fan to draw cooler nighttime air through open windows and into the attic. Keep humidity in check with a whole-house dehumidifier.