7 ways to lower your air conditioning electric bill

Air conditioning can be 40-60% of a summer electric bill in a hot climate. You don't have to sweat through August to bring that down — most of the savings come from small changes to how the system runs, not from suffering.

1. Raise the thermostat, and let it drift when you're out

Every degree you lower the setpoint adds roughly 6-8% to cooling runtime. Setting 78°F when you're home instead of 72°F is a real double-digit cut. Use a programmable or smart thermostat to let the house drift up 4-6 degrees while you're at work or asleep — the system uses less energy coasting warm than holding a cold house all day.

2. Change the filter

A clogged filter chokes airflow, so the system runs longer to move the same cool air. Check it monthly in peak season and replace it when it looks gray. This is the single cheapest thing on the list.

3. Seal the easy air leaks

Cool air escaping around window-unit sides, through a fireplace damper, or under exterior doors makes the AC work against your house. Foam weatherstrip and a door sweep cost a few dollars and pay back in a single billing cycle.

4. Run ceiling fans in occupied rooms

A fan doesn't cool the air, but moving air makes a room feel 3-4°F cooler, so you can raise the thermostat that much. Turn fans off in empty rooms — they only help when someone's there to feel the breeze.

5. Block the afternoon sun

Closed blinds or curtains on west- and south-facing windows during the afternoon cut solar heat gain significantly. Exterior shades or awnings work even better because they stop the heat before it hits the glass.

6. Cool the space you use, not the whole house

If you have window or portable units, run only the ones in rooms you're actually in. With central air, closing vents in unused rooms helps a little, but don't close more than about a third of them or you'll raise duct pressure and hurt efficiency — a zoned system or a smart vent setup does this properly.

7. Service the system before the season

A technician checking refrigerant charge, cleaning the outdoor coil, and clearing the condensate line keeps the system at its rated efficiency. A coil caked in dirt or a low charge can quietly add 10-20% to your runtime all summer.

See the payoff in dollars

Once you've made a few of these changes, put your new usage into the AC cost calculator with your state's rate to see the monthly difference. The United States tariff page shows the current rate the calculator is using for your state.