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There’s nothing quite like walking through the door on a brutal summer day and feeling that first blast of cold, air-conditioned bliss. What’s a lot less blissful? Opening your electric bill a few weeks later only to find that that heat relief has cost you hundreds of dollars. The good news, according to experts, is that you don’t have to pick a side in the sweat versus spend showdown.

“I have found that lowering your air conditioning bill involves a combination of behavioral changes and potential home improvements,” says Lisa Purvins, vice president of Pro-Tech Heating and Cooling. “Making small adjustments to your daily routine and optimizing your home’s efficiency can significantly reduce energy consumption.”

Translation: A few small tweaks — some free, some one-time investments — can add up to real savings without turning your home into a sauna. I asked cooling experts to share their favorite tips for keeping your house comfortable all summer long without getting an eye-watering bill.

How to lower your air conditioning bill

With temperatures reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit for and more for days across the country this summer, we get why you may want to blast your air. But if your go-to summer move is to crank your air conditioner all day, chances are your energy bill is taking a hit. According to experts, there are a few ways to lower your air conditioning bill without turning off or drastically changing how you use your air conditioner. These are their top suggestions:

• Raise your thermostat slightly: Chances are you won’t notice much of a difference in the air temperature if you raise your thermostat (or the temperature of your window unit) by two to three degrees. But you will see a difference in your energy bill, says Purvins. That simple tweak can shave two to three percent on your monthly bill.
• Invest in a smart thermostat: You could turn off the air when you’re not home, but cooling everything off when you arrive will take time — which may not be so pleasant. That’s where a programmable thermostat comes in handy. You can set it to increase the temperature when you’re away from home, and lower it when you’re back, says Purvins. Many smart thermostats are even controllable from your phone, which means you can lower the temperature before you get home so it’s cool upon arrival.
• Service your equipment: “Regular maintenance of your air conditioning unit, including filter changes, is very important,” says Purvins. When an air conditioner is not maintained, it can get clogged, requiring more energy to cool a room. Dirty filters can also hinder airflow, causing it to work harder to push air out. In turn, this can skyrocket your bill. Cleaning your window unit or having your air conditioner serviced by a pro can help avoid these energy sucks.
• Upgrade your air conditioner: Every expert I spoke to recommended that you get an Energy Star-rated air conditioning unit. Models with this government-backed rating are more energy efficient and have various controls and settings to optimize performance using the least amount of energy possible, says Steve Rosas, environmental consultant, the chief operations officer and president of Omega Environmental, an environmental management and hazardous materials consulting firm.

Highly rated energy-saving air conditioners

If you’re on the market for an air conditioner or looking to upgrade your unit to something energy efficient or even Energy Star certified, check out the options below. They will cool various-sized rooms and each have at least a four-star average rating from shoppers at Amazon or other retailers.

Designed with energy efficiency in mind, this air conditioner is a solid fit for home offices, bedrooms or living areas up to 150 square feet. Choose from seven temperature settings and two fan speeds to dial in your comfort level, and pop out the filter for quick, easy cleaning. The unit also comes with expandable side panels that fit standard windows, plus a mounting kit for simple installation.

This Energy Star-certified air conditioner delivers up to 37 percent energy savings over standard units, according to the brand. It is ideal for larger rooms as it cools spaces up to 550 square feet. The U-shaped design lets you open and close your window around the unit, blocking outside noise while still letting in fresh air. Setup is simple with a quick-snap bracket and adjustable side panels. Control it via app, remote, or voice assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant for effortless everyday use.

This Enery Star-certified unit cools spaces up to 800 square feet and pairs with the LG ThinQ app, letting you adjust temperature, modes and schedules from your phone. It also can be adjusted using Alexa or Google Assistant. Since its app enabled, you can turn on your air conditioner before you get home to ensure the space is cool only when you need it to be, and turn off your unit from anywhere in case you forget to power it down before you go out. While it carries a high upfront price, its ability to cool a larger room and energy savings make it a smart one-time investment.

This portable air conditioner is built for smart, energy-efficient cooling and is suitable for rooms up to 400 square feet. The floor-standing three-in-one unit cools, dehumidifies and circulates air. It also comes with a remote control for temperature control from across the room and has adjustable fan speeds, sleep mode and comes with an installation kit for easy setup.

Other ways to keep your home cool while using less air conditioning

Want to lower your air conditioner or even turn it off completely to save some money? There are several things you can do to still keep your house cool. Some involve home improvements, while others revolve around items you can use in place of an air conditioner.

Home improvements that can keep your home cool

Rosas and Purvins mentioned that proper insulation and sealing around doors and windows is key. If they are not properly sealed, they’ll allow heat to seep in. To fix this, caulk gaps around windows and add weather stripping (made from thin foam strips) around doors, says Rosas. These things are easy enough to do on your own — there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube. Or, you can hire a handyman to do the job quickly.

Items to use in place of an air conditioner

In addition to minor home improvements, a handful of items can help keep your house cool when you don’t want to blast the air conditioner. Keep your windows open during cooler parts of the day (think early morning and late evening) to let in air and create a cross breeze, says Purvins. As for when it’s hot, Purvins suggests hanging heavy curtains or blinds and keeping them shut to prevent sunlight from heating your home.

Another option is to utilize ceiling fans or a tower fan. While this won’t cool the air, it does keep airflow moving, says Rosas. At night, you can also position fans near open windows to pull cooler air into your home and help circulate it.

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Meet our cooling experts

At NBC Selected, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Lisa Purvins is the vice president of Pro-Tech Heating and Cooling in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• Steve Rosas is an environmental consultant and the chief operations officer and president of Omega Environmental, an environmental management and hazardous materials consulting firm..

Why trust NBC Selected?

I am a commerce editor at NBC Selected and a journalist who regularly covers wellness, beauty, and lifestyle. I have also written about relieving how to relieve shoulder pain and whether or not menopause causes acne. For this story, I spoke with two doctors about what to look for in an automatic pill dispenser.