KEEP THE HEAT OUT of the house this summer.

Covering windows with light colored blinds inside helps, especially on west windows that allow much more heat to permeate later in the afternoon. Another often overlooked heat source comes from electronics inside your house. Turning off the TV and flicking off the light switch goes a long way in keeping the heat down. Shades and awnings on the outside of windows are also incredibly effective ways to cool a home down, as are shade trees and other plants – particularly when they are planted on the west and east side of a home.