- Avoid using the oven on hot days.
- Instead, cook on the stove, use a microwave oven, or grill outside.
- Clear the area around where your air conditioner vents to the outside to ensure the best possible ventilation.
- Save on cooling costs by setting your thermostat to 75-78°F when you’re at home, health permitting. Set it to 85°F when you’re away for more than a few hours.
- If possible, enjoy an afternoon out at the pool, park, or local library.
- You can also visit your community cooling centers
- Wait until cooler times of the day to do tasks that make your house warmer, like laundry and cooking.
- If you turn your ceiling fan on when using the air conditioner, you can raise your thermostat about 4°F to save on cooling costs with no reduction in comfort.
- Make sure your air conditioners fresh air vent is closed so you’re not spending extra money cooling outside air.
- Turn bathroom and kitchen ventilation fans off about 10 minutes after their job is done to keep them from pushing cooled air out of your house.
- Hang laundry outside.
- Take advantage of late sunsets and warm evenings to bypass your dryer and let your clothes air dry.
- Turn off lights. In addition to switching off lights when you’re not using rooms, consider a summer tradition of candlelit dinners or dimly lit game nights. During the day, rely on natural light alone.
- Clear the area around where your air conditioner vents to the outside to ensure the best possible ventilation.
- Make sure the outside part of your air conditioner can easily ventilate by clearing any debris or other items from the area.
