Heating and cooling costs can eat up almost half of your household budget.

There has to be some way to cut down on this large chunk of your bank account without succumbing to the heat of summer. Luckily, there are several ways you can cut your air conditioning costs this summer while staying clear of the heat that comes with it.

Plant Around Your Home

A lot of the heat that builds up in your home comes from direct sunlight. A great way to cut back on the amount of sun shining directly into your home is by planting trees and other leafy plants outside. The addition of these trees will help block the direct sunlight that heats up your home, and it will keep your property looking beautiful for many years to come.

Keep Your Windows Shut

When the weather starts warming up, we love to open our windows and air out the house. Unfortunately, once the summer heat sets in, these open windows are invitations for the warm air outside. The old habit of putting a fan in your window to help cool off is actually doing more harm than good. So help keep your home cool by closing those windows when the thermometer starts climbing a bit too high. Open them up when the sun sets and the cooler nighttime air begins creeping in.

Eat Cool Food

No, we aren't talking about eating the latest trends in food, but eat food that is actually cooler. Fruit salads are a perfect dish to enjoy on a warm summer day. By consuming the lower temperature food, you are enabling your internal body temperature to remain lower and keep you cooler. Cooler food also requires little or no cooking, which will also help keep your home much cooler.