American summers are growing hotter, thanks to climate change and increased urbanization. Using an air conditioner to stay cool takes a big bite out of your household budgets. There’s plenty you can do, though, to cut the cost of cooling a home. For example, sealing air leaks and adding insulation can together boost a home’s heating and cooling efficiency by 15 percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Here are 19 tips for lowering the cost of keeping cool: Cool your home by putting solar screens (also called sun-shade screens) on the windows that get the most sun. Installed on the outside of windows, they look like insect screens, but are made of a denser mesh that blocks heat and light. Buy adjustable screens that fit into window frames, have screens custom-made or make them yourself for about $10 per screen. Since the mesh comes in varying densities, shop around at hardware stores to decide which you need before buying. Another type of mesh, called shade cloth, also comes in varying densities and can be used outdoors to shade decks, playgrounds, patios, eating areas and outdoor living areas.

Install awnings above outside your warmest windows to shade them from sun. Awnings cut solar heat gain by up to 65 percent on south-facing windows in summer and by 77 percent on west-facing windows, the EPA says. Inexpensive roll-up shades — made of bamboo or vinyl strips — block heat. Hang them outside windows on the sunny side of the house. They are rolled up and down manually using a pull-cord. Keep them up in winter to invite the sun’s warmth indoors. Shutters — in vinyl, composite, wood or natural-fiber woven material — also block the sun while adding a stylish architectural flourish. Keeping air-conditioner units at maximum efficiency by having them regularly serviced helps whittle energy bills. Replace filters monthly when units are in use. Dirty filters block air flow, making the unit draw more power and work harder. Hold a family meeting and get everyone to agree on one temperature for day and one for night. Otherwise, fiddling with your home’s thermostat wreaks havoc on your air conditioner’s efficiency.

Save still more by setting temperatures inside the home to rise as much as 4 degrees while you’re away, allowing you to save energy. Homes with forced-air ducts for heating and cooling can lose 20 to 30 percent of heated or cooled air to holes, leaks and leaky duct joints. Some people seal these openings with duct tape, but the EPA says such seals don’t last well. Mastic sealant or metal tape works better. Hire a contractor or do it yourself. The DIY approach saves about $350 per year on energy costs and requires investing about $100 to $350 in materials to seal air leaks around the house, according to the National Association of Realtors. Expensively cooled indoor air can leak from windows and doors. The U.S. Department of Energy website has articles about caulking and weatherstripping that tell how to tighten the seals around your doors and windows. Spending about $1,000 on new caulking, insulation and sealing can shave 10 to 20 percent off your energy bill, estimates the NAR.

Check out the Department of Energy website to learn how to conduct an energy audit to locate air leaks throughout the house. Before you install new insulation, seal any leaks and holes in the attic. Before electricity, homes in warm climates used separate outdoor summer kitchens to keep the main house cool. Firing up your barbecue instead of the kitchen on the hottest days has the same effect. Dishwashers and clothes dryers emit heat as they run, and that makes your air conditioner run even harder. new ac unit not coolingUse such appliances after the day cools down.what is the cost to replace ac unit Another way to save energy is to turn off the dishwasher before the dry cycle is complete; how to charge ac unit in car

open it up and let dishes air dry. A time-honored laundry method that costs nothing is installing an old-fashioned clothesline and letting laundry dry in the sunshine. Use vents or vented appliances at night or in the early morning. Running bathroom and kitchen fans during the hottest hours pulls cooled air out of the house. The clothes dryer’s vent sends cooled air outside, too. Buying a new air conditioning system is a big decision and investment. Purchasing an energy-efficient air conditioning unit will help you realize significant savings year after year. To qualify for a $150 air conditioning rebate: Purchase and install a complete new straight cool/air cooled high-efficiency A/C system. This includes both indoor and outdoor A/C units. New unit must have a SEER rating of 16 or 17. New unit must be installed in a single-family detached home. Purchase your A/C system through a Participating Independent Contractor (PIC). View our heating and cooling guide.

Hybrid Heating & Cooling About Roland J. Down Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning New AC Installations: What Does a New Air Conditioner Cost in Albany? How much a new air conditioning, heating, or air filtration system will cost can vary quite a bit depending on a number of factors. These variables generally fall into a couple categories: Building and Environmental Factors: All of these elements and more help to dictate the type, size, and level of work necessary to properly heat and cool a home, which usually goes into the price of the new system. What Can You Expect to Pay? Ranch or Smaller Residence Up to 2000 square feet 1 or 1.5 Story $40-$250 per month with approved financing, or $6,000 - $15,000 $100-$500/month with approved financing, or $8,000 - $25,000 Various levels or highly custom $250+ per month with approved financing, or $18,000 - $60,000+ Potential pricing may vary depending on geographic location, personal lifestyle, system settings, equipment maintenance and installation of equipment and duct system.

How HVAC Systems Are Priced by the Manufacturer (MSRP) Central heating and cooling systems are similar to vehicle classes. Systems usually fall into big (and sometimes misleading) ranges of "economy", "mid-level", and "premium". However, because every homeowner is different, each new heating and cooling system is manually installed, and because of all the earlier factors mentioned, the process and ultimate pricing of a heating and cooling system could be equated to choosing vehicle "Options." Home comfort Options include size and efficiency, as well as air quality control, such as the efficiency of air cleaners and air filters. Air quality control systems are imperative for homeowners with infants and children, people in the home with allergy or respiratory problems, or climate control issues that necessitate humidification controls. Thermostat controls are also a large part of the home comfort puzzle, and a wide variety of mobile and Wi-Fi options are now available. Other home comfort choices include adding the required amount of insulation or redesigning, correcting, and cleaning ductwork to be sure the system works efficiently.