Cooling your home without breaking the bank

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The temperatures are skyrocketing this week, and if you’re not careful, your energy bills will be soaring too.

There are some simple steps you can take to keep your home cool without breaking the bank.

The number one key to keeping your home cool is to prevent the heat from entering, and the best place to start is with your windows.

“We really recommend getting shade screens on your windows, especially the ones that are reflecting the most amount of sun,” Casaundra Donahoe with Salt River Project said. “You can build those yourself by getting different materials from house supply stores, or you can have a contractor do it for you.”

You can also apply a reflective, heat-reducing film to your windows.

Using ceiling fans won’t make your room cooler, but it will make you feel cooler. Just make sure the fan is spinning counterclockwise. Fans can give a wind chill that makes your room feel 8 degrees cooler than it really is. Changing your light bulbs could also have an impact. Older bulbs tend to produce more heat.

“Something smaller like switching out LEDs or weatherizing your doors can typically save you around 10%,” Donahoe said. “Whereas replacing an AC unit can save you almost 40% because it really becomes more efficient circulating that air for you.”

Avoid running large appliances in the afternoon, and turn electronics off that you’re not using. Another tip is to turn up the thermostat as you’re heading out.

“We recommend when you’re leaving for the day, set it for at least 80-degrees. That’ll help start saving you the most amount of money, and we always say every degree above 80 degrees saves about 3 percent on your energy bill over the year,” Donahoe said.

When it comes to keeping room doors open or shut, the answer may depend on your ductwork and how the air circulates around the house.

“Typically, we recommend keeping things open so the air has a chance to circulate throughout every room if you haven’t had a chance to get that checked recently,” Donahoe said.

When it’s time for dinner, get outside and fire up the grill. Your oven creates a lot of heat and adds to your energy cost, so cooking that food outside can make a big difference in keeping your home cool.

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