Green tips for air conditioning

Heres how to keep the AC on the lowest setting and still be comfy, even on the hottest days.
Trying the shrubbery trick.Landscaping to shade your entire home from the sun is a great way to keep it cool for less. The best use of your landscaping dollars is to plant a few inexpensive shrubs to shield the air conditioning unit. This trick will actually boost the unit’s efficiency bill and save you money.
Cleaning house at this time.Dishwashers, washers, dryers and vacuums all give off enough heat to make your air conditioning work 10% harder. Use them when your house is naturally cooler either first thing in the morning or after dark – and the extra heat won’t kick the AC into overdrive.
Swapping your light source.Not only do compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use about 75% less energy than traditional bulbs, but they also give off 75% less heat. Make the switch and your AC won’t be working so hard – saving you about $40 in cooling costs over the lifetime of just one bulb.
Cracking an attic window.The hottest air in your home is on this upper level–and it can often seep lower into your living space. By cracking a window, you can lower the attic temperature–even a few degrees is enough to help reduce the stiflingly air that heats up the rest of your home.