How to reduce the cost of cooling your home

I have a friend who recently posted a picture of his electric bill on Twitter.  It was $591.82. Ouch.  Granted, Fort Smith, AR (where MoveBuilder's home office and his home are located) has broken a record for the most consecutive days over 100 degrees, and spent at least one day as the hottest location in the country.  It's hot, and it takes a lot of work for cooling systems to keep up with the heat.  But it's likely that he's not the only one getting slammed with outrageously high electric bills this summer.  If you're moving into a new home in a new part of the country, this may be something never had to contend with before. So, let's talk about things HVAC experts say you can do to reduce the cost of cooling your home. 

Replace your current cooling system.  Of course, this is an expensive endeavor, so before diving in, think about a few factors:  How efficient is the current cooling system?  Would you benefit from replacing it?  What is the cost of a new system, installation and maintenance? How does the cost compare to your current cooling system? Do you expect that a new cooling system would reduce your electric bill enough to offset the price? If this is an option for you, look for the Energy Star label for more efficient cooling.

Set your thermostat as high as you feel comfortable.  This will prevent your air conditioner from running constantly. 

Use a programmable thermostat.  If your current thermostat doesn't have a timer built-in, you can replace it with one that is programmable. Just set it to turn off when you leave for the day and turn back on an hour or so before you return.  Running the air conditioner when you're not home is an energy waster.

Clean or replace air filters.  Dirty air filters can cause your air conditioner to operate inefficiently by making it work harder, which in turn uses more electricity. Cheap, disposable filters should be changed every 1-2 months, more expensive disposable filters (3M) should be replaced every 2-3 months and non-disposable washable filters should be cleaned once a month. 

Keep appliances that produce heat away from your thermostat.  The thermostat can sense the heat and continue to cool despite the actual temperature.

Inspect the air ducts.  They'll be either in the basement or in the attic.  A leaky duct system could be wasting a lot of energy and a lot of money. While you're at it, check to see if the ducts are insulated— insulation makes them more efficient.  Also check for air leaks, separated joints and holes.  Leaks can be sealed with mastic, butyl tape or foil tape. Duct tape may work temporarily but you might consider having a professional tend to the duct system.

Check windows and doors for air leaks.  If you find one, seal it with weather stripping or caulk. You'll pay more if the cold air escapes. 

Keep drapes closed during the day.  Anything you can do to keep direct sunlight out is beneficial.   If you must have sunlight streaming in the window, you can install reflective film on the window to block some of the heat.

Turn on ceiling fans.  Fans can make you feel 3-8 degrees cooler— perfect when you've got the AC turned up as high as you can stand it.  It's notable that central air conditioning costs seventy times more to run than a ceiling fan. But make sure they're spinning the right way— most will have a summer/winter switch.  Normally if you're under the fan looking up it should be turning counter-clockwise during the summer.  To test it, turn the fan on full-speed and stand under it. If you can feel the air hitting you, it's going the right way.   

Turn off the oven.  The hottest time of the year might be the time to use your microwave instead of an oven for cooking.

Change light bulbs.  Believe it or not, the light bulbs you choose can heat up your house and use a lot of electricity. Consider compact fluorescent bulbs— they use 75% less energy.

When you're moving into a new home (that you're purchasing and that's not a new construction), don't forget about energy tax incentives. The incentives may be enough to make upgrading to more energy effecient products worth it.