COOLING

On an average summer day, American air conditioners provide enough cold air to produce 16 trillion ice cubes. That takes a lot of energy. Follow the energy efficiency tips below—you’ll save energy and money, and still be cool and comfortable all summer.

Use fans instead of air conditioners on days with moderate heat. They improve the air circulation in your home and use 90% less electricity.

When you do use the air conditioner, leave your fan running. The air circulation makes the room feel cooler and lets you save energy by setting your thermostat higher.

Set your thermostat at an energy-efficient summer temperature of 78°F. You can save 5% on your cooling costs for every degree you raise the thermostat.

Keep your air conditioner in the shade. An air conditioner exposed to direct sunlight will use up to 5% more energy than a shaded one.

Check the air conditioner coils—they won’t work efficiently unless they’re clean and straight.

Reduce your air conditioner fan speed in humid weather. This makes the coils run cooler and increases the amount of moisture that the air conditioner can remove from the air.

Check your filter once a month during the cooling season. Hold it up to bright light—if you can’t see through it, it’s time to clean or replace it. A clogged filter will use up to 5% more energy than a clean one.

Don’t switch your air conditioner to a higher setting when you turn it on. It won’t cool the room any faster, but it will waste energy.

Turn the air conditioner off when you leave for several hours. It’s more efficient to re-cool the house later than to leave your air conditioner running.

Try using a timer set to turn on the air conditioner half an hour before you return home.

Don’t place lamps or TV sets near your air conditioning thermostat—heat from these appliances could cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.

Use vents and exhaust fans to pull heat and moisture from the attic, kitchen, bathroom, and laundry.

Enter and exit rooms quickly. Keep doors closed as much as possible. You will lose less cool air that way.

Wear warm weather clothing. This way, you can keep your thermostat at the recommended 78 f and still maintain your comfort level. Air cools you naturally when it can circulate across your skin because it evaporates moisture.