ac_6-21-10.jpg We've mentioned ways to keep cool without turning on your air conditioner, but when the summer temperatures start busting the 100 degree mark daily, or the humidity makes it feel like you're swimming through a world full of soup, sometimes it's a must. Stay cool with some of these energy saving tips!

Although many can tough out the high temperatures and wear it like a badge of honor, some might not have the stamina, or have needs that require air conditioning. You might have elderly or small children that would benefit from it or rooms full of computer equipment that need a slight chill to work at their best... and that's ok. To help keep your bills and your energy consumption as low as possible, check out the 10 tips below:

1. Warmer At Night Is OK: During the night time hours you don't require the same level of conscious cool. Try turning your AC down (so it is running less) during your sleep hours or an hour or two before bed.

2. Use Window or Portable Units: If you aren't into cooling your whole home, try using a portable unit to cool just the area you'll be working in. They use up to 50% less energy than a larger central air unit would to cool off the same space.

3. Close Off Vents: The basement is traditionally the coolest room in the home, so try closing all the vents in the lower portion of your home. The cool air will slink down there naturally and by closing those vents, you're forcing all the air up top first, cooling as it comes down.

4. Service Your Unit: Some basic maintenance might be all your air conditioner needs, but most will greatly benefit from a good hosing out, especially if you're plagued with pesky trees like Cottonwoods that drop seeds which stick to the filters and make the unit work 15% harder!

5. Check Your Ducts: Making sure the areas where your ducts run through parts of your home without air conditioning (like the attic) are properly insulated will keep the air coming in as cool as it can be. Paying for half cool air isn't anyone's idea of money well spent!

6. Rearrange Your Furniture: Furniture that obstructs air conditioning vents means you could be cooling the back of a chair or the bottom side of your sofa and although it might appreciate the thought, we're pretty sure you'd rather have that chill instead. Although they make plastic pieces for your vents to help force air in the right direction, the easiest way is to just rearrange things for awhile!

7. Try 78 Degrees: 78 degrees is a good point for an air conditioner to run at its optimal performance level. Think of it as a car on cruise control headed across the flat Midwest prairie. It's not chugging along going up hill, and is just is plugging away, steady as she goes. Taking your temperature even 5 degrees lower can make your air conditioner use up to 40% more energy!

8. Lighting: Turning lights off can help reduce your heat, but paying attention to how much light you let in from open windows can also play a significant role. Although it might neurotic to open and close your windows everyday with the changing of the sun, it makes a huge difference in how much heat your bought air is competing against.

9. Is Anyone Home?: If you can, while you're away turn your AC up to 85 and make sure the windows and drapes are closed. Although it will be hot for a few minutes when you come home, the blinds will help keep out the sun out (allowing existing cool to stay that way for as long as possible) and the heat won't be so substantial that your unit will have to work overtime to cool things back off.

10. Don't Forget The Fan: We rely on air conditioners to keep things cool, but having the help of a few supplemental fans doesn't hurt. Using them to circulate the cool air means you don't need quite as much pumped into the room. They use less energy than your air conditioner unit, so having them around as backup is a great idea.

Do you have another tip to add to the pile? Let us know below!

(Image: Sarah Rae Trover)

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