The heat and humidity of summer are upon us and air conditioners all over Houston are working overtime to keep things cool.  There’s lots of little things that you can do make sure your electric bill doesn’t go through the roof as the temperatures climb.

1. Clean air filters regularly. Air conditioners not only cool the air, they filter it as well. If you have a small window unit, take the front of the air conditioner off regularly and clean the filter. If you have central air, change the filter (usually every 60 to 90 days). Cleaning the A/C means that it’s not having to work harder to cool the air because the air flow isn’t impeded.

2. Keep blinds and pull curtains and window shades during the day. Doing these things will help block the sun and keep it from warming up the inside of your home.

3. Use a ceiling or box fan to help keep air moving.  The moving air will help keep you cool by creating cross breezes. If it’s a nice evening, open doors and windows to allow for cross breezes and cross ventilation to cool your place.

4. Do not turn the A/C off during the day. Instead turn the A/C up to 80 degrees. When you turn off the A/C, latent heat builds up in your home and it takes many hours of  continuous work by your A/C to get the air in your home cooled off again.  Turning the A/C up keeps the inside of your house cool enough that it still feels good when you come home, but it won’t take hours to get cool.

5. Tune up your A/C. Have central A/C ducts checked for leaks. And if it is more than 10 years old, a new high-efficiency unit can be up to 40% more efficient. When the A/C is running, don’t forget to latch your windows and keep the door closed. If you have a fire place, double check to make sure that the damper is closed. In an older apartment, you can get a high efficency window unit with a timer to help augment the main unit and only run the window unit when you are home and using the room.

6. Plant trees, use awnings, and plan exposures of windows and doors.  Trees can shade your home or yard and keep things considerably cooler. Deciduous trees, those that lose their leaves in winter, will let sunlight through in winter when it’s desired and create shade in summer. Awnings and planning the exposure of windows and doors in a home you are building can also provide shade. The south and west sides of your home will generally be the hottest and most in need of shade.

7. Make sure that rocks, concrete, or brick patios aren’t right against the house — especially on south and west exposures. These items reflect heat onto walls or windows. If you already have such a feature in your landscape, plant a tree so that the feature and that side of the building are shaded, especially during the hot parts of the day. Rocks, concrete, and the like also retain heat longer than planted areas after the sun goes down.