Use the Summer Heat for Cool

Okay, so believe it or not, there are some things that you can do to lower your energy bills during the summer, but also stay cool.

Source: http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/06/26/15225152/index.xml Here are some great tips from the daily-chronicle.com:

2. Air-dry your laundry Home appliances are a major factor in the energy consumption of homes, but summer weather gives you an opportunity to use them less. After you finish washing a load of laundry, take it outside instead of dropping it in the dryer. Hot summer air can dry your clothes just as well as an electric appliance. 3. Grill out It’ll be hard not to turn up the air conditioning if you cook on the stove during the summer. Luckily, summer is grilling season and you can avoid filling your house with excess heat. Grill outside and enjoy the day as the heat morphs into a mild evening. 4. Upgrade and weatherproof If you don’t feel like you’re getting the most out of your air conditioning, it might be time to make some investments in your home. Some modifications are as simple as changing your AC unit’s air filters. A slightly more expensive but worthwhile investment is to weather strip your home so that cold air (and heat in the winter) is not escaping through the cracks. 6. Make use of fans A ceiling fan will cool the room by circulating air, but it will use considerably less energy than air conditioning. A whole-house fan is a worthwhile investment that uses a fraction of the energy used by a central air conditioner. 7. Properly shade your home Sunlight will warm your home and make your air conditioning work harder. But awnings, blinds and reflective films on windows will reduce the effect of the sun on indoor temperature. If you have an AC wall unit, it will run better if it’s shaded.

((please note, the numbers aren't in sequential order (some are missing) because the complete list of 10 is featured on their website. If you would like to see the entire list, please visit them directly. I have just pulled out the HVAC/energy-related tips.))