And while some AC usage may well be inevitable, there are ways to feel comfy in your home through the hot summer months without spending so much on electricity bills. Here are some low-cost ways to keep your home cooler this summer. The best blackout curtains will keep your room cool, make it easier for you to fall asleep (and stay asleep), and best of all, you don’t have to pay top dollar to find ones that work well. “You stand to save almost $400 every year on heating and cooling if you locate the air leaks around your home and seal them,” says David Bluhm, co-founder of Plunk, an app that helps homeowners with projects that will increase the value of their home. Plus, you might be able to get some financial assistance to insulate your home. Bluhm says that government agencies strongly push for insulation, making a variety of local and federal subsidies like rebates, grants, loans, and tax credits available—like this weatherization assistance program that provides these services for low-income families. Check out your state’s weatherization agency to see what options are available to you. There are lots of budget-friendly fans out there, but if you are able to splurge, a whole house fan can be a good investment, especially if you don’t have air conditioning. “They’re energy efficient, they cool off your home quickly, and they barely make noise,” says Harold Neufville, owner of personal finance blog Wholesome Wallet. Neufville says he paid $1,400 for his whole house fan, which is still cheaper than installing central AC, which can range anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000 on average. Not only do LEDs last a lot longer—25,000 hours compared to 1,200 hours with incandescent bulbs—they’re more cost-effective too. “The cost to buy and run an LED bulb for three hours a day for one year alone would cost $2.81 compared to the larger $8.89 cost for an incandescent bulb,” says Bluhm. “The cost is relatively low when considering the savings over a 5-year period, not to mention the benefit to the environment,” says Catherine Alford, author of “Mom’s Got Money” and co-founder of the blog Millennial Homeowner. A smart thermostat adapts to your home and needs and saves energy and money. Alford says that when she recently went away on a weekend trip, her Nest turned itself to eco mode as it didn’t detect her walking by it. “[It saved] us money while we were away without me even having to think about it,” says Alford.
