Mickie Swisher, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Sustainable Agriculture and Hyun-Jeong Lee, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Housing Programs

The urge to crank up that AC is just about irrestible in Florida in the summer. Here are some tips for keeping your cool and your money.

1. Start by keeping the heat out if you can. Close the curtains or shades on windows on the south and west during the day. That's where the worst of the heat hits. Install white shades, drapes, or blinds -- they reflect light and heat instead of absorbing it. If you're going to put up awnings, start with the south- and west-facing windows.
2. Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent ones. Incandescent light bulbs give off a lot of heat and they use a lot of electricity. Fluorescent bulbs provide the same amount and quality of lighting, but use much less energy and heat your house much less. Compact fluorescent bulbs that fit virtually every kind of lamp are now available and there are a wide variety of fluorescent fixtures and bulb types available. This is a quick, inexpensive way to reduce summer energy use.
3. Make sure your HVAC (heating, ventilation, & air conditioning) system is well maintained. Be sure you change filters often. Frequent maintenance reduces energy use, prolongs system life, and improves indoor air quality. Dirty coils, too much or too little coolant, and poor air flow over the coils are all common problems. Take time now for an HVAC "tune up" so that you get peak performance over the long, hot summer.
4. Check to ensure that no furniture or other obstacles are blocking ducts or fans. You want that cool air to circulate freely in your home. Just the air movement alone will make you feel more comfortable.
5. Check for problems with your HVAC duct. Problems with your ducts can cost you a lot. There are simple things you can do that don't cost much and that can reduce energy use a lot. Start with the ducts that run through places that are not air-conditioned -- like the attic or garage. Seal the seams and connections. Then, wrap the ducts in insulation. This will help keep the ducts cool so that you don't waste valuable chilled air cooling the tubes it travels through!
6. Install ceiling fans in the rooms where you spend a lot of time. Ceiling fans are relatively inexpensive and the air blowing in the room reduces the sensible temperature (how hot it feels) in the room. Ceiling fans use a lot less energy than your air conditioner and you can set the AC at a higher setting if you have ceiling fans.
7. Check that your doors and windows properly seal. You may be air conditioning the whole outdoors. Windows and doors leak cool air if they are not properly sealed. Get a good, responsible professional to examine your door and window fittings to make sure they are tight. Beware recommendations to change your windows. Some kinds of windows do help keep your house cool, but others do not. Fixing the leaks around the windows and doors usually costs a lot less; and will give you a big boost in energy savings if your fittings are leaking.
8. Check roof and wall insulation. Remember that insulation doesn't just help keep your house warm in the winter. It also helps prevent heat build-up in the summer. The roof is the most important for the summer. Our homes absorb a lot of heat through the roof during our long, hot summers. If you've been thinking about insulation, this might be a very good time to have a professional check your insulation instead of waiting until the fall. Remember: focus on the roof.