ways to cool down air-conditioning costs

Fan it

No need to invest in fancy fans. Krigger says the key is to circulate air inside the house. If possible, operate fans on your home's upper level and open the windows on a lower level. If you live in a one-story house or apartment, you should close windows near the fan and open windows in rooms far from the fan, preferably on your home's windward side, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Moving air also helps evaporate the sweat from your skin, says Paul Scheckel, an energy-efficiency consultant in Calais, Vermont, and author of "The Home Energy Diet."

Chill in the basement

Camp out in your basement, says Stan Cox, author of "Losing Our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Air-Conditioned World (and Finding New Ways to Get Through the Summer)." In your eco-cooled basement, a TV, couch or futon, and a cold drink may be all you need.

However, Scheckel says don't open basement windows when outdoor air is heavy with humidity. "Warm, moist air will cause condensation on cool surfaces such as basement walls, ultimately increasing the humidity in your home," he says.

Don't bake or cook on the stove

Skip the stove-top boiling and oven baking during hot spells, Cox says. Reduce indoor heat by making microwave nachos or eating a cool salad. If you must boil pasta for tomorrow's potluck, cook in the evening.

After cooking, turn on the kitchen exhaust, and turn on the bathroom exhaust fan after a hot shower. "Remove heat and moisture at the source," Scheckel says. "Reducing humidity can help increase comfort."

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