1. Close window shades, drapes, and blinds on the sunny sides of the home during the day to block the sun.
2. Set the air conditioner thermostat at 78 when people are at home and higher when leaving. A programmable thermostat makes adjustments easy. Run a ceiling fan or other fans with the air conditioner to feel cooler.
3. Have a qualified heating and cooling technician check the central air conditioner unit annually. Change unit filters every month for peak efficiency.
4. Schedule heat-producing such as baking, cooking and laundry chores during cooler morning and evening hours when possible. Cook with a microwave or grill dinner outdoors.
5. Turn down the water heater temperature to 120 or the "warm" setting.
6. Turn off unnecessary lights in your home and replace standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. CFLs use 75 percent less energy and last much longer.
7. Use natural ventilation. On cooler evenings when the humidity is tolerable, turn off the air conditioner and open windows. Run whole house, window, ceiling, or floor fans and a dehumidifier.
8. Use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans just long enough to remove heat and steam.
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