The average homeowner spends about $375 on air conditioning. Here's how to slash your summer energy bills without sacrificing too much comfort.1. Don't just set it and forget it. If you have central air controlled by a thermostat, use a programmable thermostat to save energy by turning the desired temperature up during the day when the house is empty. You can give up a couple degrees at night, too — especially on the hottest days. You may be surprised to find that the contrast between outdoor and indoor temperatures matters as much as the absolute temperature inside your home. When home, aim to set the temperature at 78 degrees to balance comfort with energy and cost savings. Together with winter energy savings, a programmable thermostat used properly can save the average home up to $150 a year.2. Clean the air filter. Whether you have central air or a window unit, a dirty filter will reduce your AC's efficiency, making it use more energy. Check your HVAC system's air filter monthly and expect to change the filter every three months.3.

Get an annual checkup. If you have central air, bring in a pro to check it out — once per year should cover both the heating and the cooling season. 3 ton ac package unitA professional should be able to diagnose any inefficiencies before you've wasted money on monthly heating and cooling bills.4. ac window unit not cooling Cooling one room with a window air conditioning unit requires much less energy (and investment) than a whole central air system for your house. how to replace filter on ac unitAsk yourself how you'll use your new air conditioner, and choose the smallest option that works. Use our calculator to help choose the right air conditioner for your space.5. Whether you're buying a central air conditioner (which could qualify for a tax credit) or a room unit, efficiency matters.

An Energy Star central air system will use about 14% less energy than minimum government standards, and a room air conditioner will save at least 10%.NEXT: 8 Ways to Keep Cool Without Air Conditioning »Photo: SuperStock/Getty 25 Products That Come With a Lifetime Guarantee You're Wasting a Ton of Money on Premium Gas, According to AAA [UPDATED]: Kmart Is Closing 64 More Stores — and Putting Everything on Sale Wells Fargo Owes Its Customers Millions of Dollars After a Massive Scandal Make Sure You Check Your Receipt After You Pay With Your Credit Card Chip Costco Is Selling Seriously Cheap Annual Disney Park Passes The 9 Most Expensive Barbies of All Time People Keep Mistaking Doll Chairs for Human Ones on Amazon, and the Reviews Are Hilarious 5 Major Deals You're Going to Want to Hit This Weekend Sneaky Apple Email Scam Steals Bank Info Get Credit for Making Your Home Energy-Efficient IRS Tax Tip 2013-48, April 4, 2013 If you made your home more energy efficient last year, you may qualify for a tax credit on your 2012 federal income tax return.

Here is some basic information about home energy credits that you should know. Non-Business Energy Property Credit You may claim a credit of 10 percent of the cost of certain energy saving property that you added to your main home. This includes the cost of qualified insulation, windows, doors and roofs. In some cases, you may be able to claim the actual cost of certain qualified energy-efficient property. Each type of property has a different dollar limit. Examples include the cost of qualified water heaters and qualified heating and air conditioning systems. This credit has a maximum lifetime limit of $500. You may only use $200 of this limit for windows. Your main home must be located in the U.S. to qualify for the credit. Not all energy-efficient improvements qualify, so be sure you have the manufacturer’s credit certification statement. It is usually available on the manufacturer’s website or with the product’s packaging. The credit was to expire at the end of 2011.

A recent law extended it for two years through the end of 2013. Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit This tax credit is 30 percent of the cost of alternative energy equipment that you installed on or in your home. Qualified equipment includes solar hot water heaters, solar electric equipment and wind turbines. There is no limit on the amount of credit available for most types of property. If your credit is more than the tax you owe, you can carry forward the unused portion of this credit to next year’s tax return. You must install qualifying equipment in connection with your home located in the United States. It does not have to be your main home. The credit is available through 2016. Use Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits, to claim these credits. You can get Form 5695 at IRS.gov or order it by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax Subscribe to IRS Tax Tips

Your session will time out shortly For your security, you will be logged out of your session in 5 minutes Your session has timed out. For your security, you have been logged out of your session due to inactivity. Please Click here to login again.Don't Let Your Hard Work And Cool Air Go Out The Window As the temperature outside starts to heat up, you might be getting ready to install room air conditioners (AC) to cool your home. Before you do, read these tips from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), so your hard work – and cool air – won’t go out the window. First, if you’re buying a new room AC, be sure to select an ENERGY STAR®-qualified model, which will save you more than $100 in energy costs over the lifetime of the unit. Installing your room AC unit correctly can save a bundle in energy costs, too. In fact, in a report issued on April 14 by Urban Green (a chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council), researchers found that the average room air conditioner leaks as much air as a six-square-inch hole in the wall.

Aptly titled There Are Holes in Our Walls, the report states that each poorly fitted and poorly sealed unit leaves a gap “about the size of your fist if you punched a hole in the wall.” NYSERDA recommends the following tips to keep the cool air in your house when using a room AC unit: Seal the unit’s top and bottom: Since most portable air conditioners are installed in an open window, the window must be lowered onto the top of the unit. Even if it looks like the window is tightly closed, there is usually a space between the unit and the window where air is leaking. Use a foam strip to insulate the gap where the two sashes meet. o   Home improvement stores sell kits to insulate your AC unit, which include foam rubber strips that squeeze into small spaces for a snug fit.o   Hardware stores sell foam insulation for pipes, usually in the plumbing section, which reduces “sweating” of the pipes in summer. These are usually available in various lengths, but you’ll only need 3-4 ft. Be sure to buy the insulation for a 2-inch pipe, approximately the same size as the bottom edge of a window.

Open the insulation where it is split and push it along the bottom of the window.Check the sides: When you expand the accordian-like sides on the AC unit, be sure they are not cracked or split, and that they fit snugly. Replacement units are available at most hardware stores.  Don’t forget the area between the upper and lower sash: Be sure to insert foam insulation in the space that is left when your window is open.  NYSERDA recommends these additional tips to maximize the operation of your window-type AC unit: Size it up: A properly sized air conditioner will operate more efficiently and dehumidify more effectively. Stir it up: Run ceiling paddle fans on medium, blowing down, in summer. Close it up: Close shades and drapes during the day to help keep heat out in summer. Clean it up: Remove and clean the AC air filter monthly. Seal it up: Keep “fresh air” vents closed on window AC units. When your air-conditioning unit is snug in its window, don’t neglect the other places in your home where cold air could escape.

Use caulk to seal other windows and doors. DUE TO THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, PLEASE USE THE TIPS BELOW TO STAY COOL AND CONSERVE ENERGY: -Close blinds or shades on sunny windows, but open windows to take advantage of natural ventilation when conditions permit – especially during cool morning or evening hours. -Set the air-conditioning thermostat just a few degrees higher. Each degree above 75° F saves you 3 percent of the energy used to cool your home. -Turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas. -Run household appliances such as dishwasher and dryers at "off-peak" (after 7 p.m.) hours. These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps and water heaters. -Keep doors closed when it is hotter outside than inside. Open them up again in the evening or morning when it is cooler outside. -Turn it off – Save electricity and reduce waste heat by shutting off lights and home electronics, especially computers, while not in use.