Alliance to Save Energy Offers ‘No Sweat’ Tips For Beating the Heat Without Losing Your Cool

As temperatures heat up, conjuring up memories of last summer's record-setting summer temperatures and roller-coaster weather, the Alliance to Save Energy offers smart, energy-efficient tips for home improvements and home buying that can reduce energy costs and pollution while increasing home comfort.

• Cooling and heating account for almost half of the average family's energy bill. Make sure your air conditioning equipment is properly maintained with a professional tune-up — clean coils and check for refrigerant leaks and proper refrigerant charging. Also clean or replace filters monthly.
• Tired of playing "thermostat cop" with the kids or coming home to a sweltering house on hot summer days? A programmable thermostat automatically coordinates indoor climates with daily and weekend patterns, increasing home comfort and reducing energy waste.
• Go "window-shopping." High-performance Energy Star windows can reduce average cooling costs from 15 to 35 percent in central and southern climate zones by filtering in visible light and filtering out heat waves. Find a step-by-step solution to best meet your climate needs at the Efficient Windows Collaborative's website, www.efficientwindows.org.
• South and west-facing windows admit the most heat in the summertime. Close blinds on those sides of the house during the day, or install shading devices such as trellises or awnings.
• Poorly sized air conditioning units can unnecessarily inflate your energy costs and contribute to poor indoor air quality in your home, worsening your allergies and making breathing uncomfortable. Check with your contractor or air conditioning system manufacturer to make sure that your system is the most efficient for your space needs.
• Attics and crawlspaces, exposed to extreme outdoor temperatures, can often reach temperatures of 115 degrees or higher! Adequate insulation can keep you from "losing your cool."
• Don't let your house get "sunburned" this summer. Cut your air conditioning load, reduce pollution and fight your local "heat island" effect by planting leafy trees and vines around your home and installing reflective tiles on your roof.
• Look for the Energy Star label, the symbol for energy efficiency, when shopping for room and central air conditioning systems — as well as for major appliances, lighting, and home electronics — t o cut these related costs by some 30 percent. Retailers near you carry Energy Star products. Find them at www.energystar.gov.
• Sip lemonade and think cool thoughts — like how you'll be freezing next winter and longing for summer again!