Staying cool this summer doesn't necessarily mean you have to pay a fortune to keep the air-conditioning running day and night. Here are tips—most costing less than $25—that will keep you comfortable and cut the typical $1,000 cooling bill by as much as half. What's needed to get the temperature to drop? Only a little time and a few changes in your routine.

The Right Setting

Typical air-conditioning settings for a programmable thermostat at different times of day: • 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. = 75 degrees • 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. = 80 degrees • 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. = 75 degrees • 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. = 80 degrees

Set the Dial Higher

If you have central air, set your thermostat above 78 degrees. You'll save 5 to 8% on cooling costs with each degree above that mark. For a typical household, setting the thermostat at 80 degrees saves 10 to 15%; raising it to 85 degrees will save 35 to 55%. Cost: $0 Benefit: 15 to 20% or more off your cooling bill

Use a Fan

A fan, which costs two to five cents per hour to operate, will make a room feel 4 to 6 degrees cooler. Also, a fan works well in tandem with an air conditioner because the dehumidifying action of the air conditioner provides drier air that the fan can then move around. Cost: Ceiling fans range from $30 to $200. Floor fans cost around $20 and whole-house fans run from $300 to $600. Benefit: Ceiling fans can decrease your cooling bill by up to 15%, while a whole-house fan can slash it by 50%.

Practice "Texas Cool"

"Texas cool" is a morning and evening routine that takes advantage of cool outdoor temperatures at night and keeps the heat at bay as much as possible during daylight hours. It's very simple: At night when the temperature drops, open windows and bring in cool air with window fans or a whole-house fan. As soon as the sun comes up or the air starts to heat up, shut the windows and shades and keep doors closed. Cost: $0 (plus minimal fan use) Benefit: 20 to 50% off your cooling bill

Use Sunblockers

As much as 20% of summer heat enters your home as sunlight shining through windows. To cut "solar gain," add curtains or blinds to rooms that get direct sun and draw them in daylight hours. With the shades drawn, a well-insulated house will gain only 1 degree per hour when outdoor temperatures are above 85 degrees. Pay special attention to west-facing rooms late in the day. Shades and blinds to consider include roller shades (the least expensive option), venetian-type micro-blinds, reflective curtains and insulated curtains (the most expensive, at $100 per window). Two exterior options are to install awnings or plant shade trees. Cost: $8 to $100 per window Benefit: Up to 20 percent off your cooling bill

Install a Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat lets you preset temperatures for different times of the day, so air-conditioning is working only when you are home. The least-expensive thermostat models ($30) let you set four cycles that, unless manually overridden, repeat every day. Higher-priced models ($50 and up) allow you to create settings for each weekday and for each weekend day. Cost: $30 to $50 Benefit: Up to 20 percent off your cooling bill

Cook Smart

Any appliance that generates heat adds to your cooling load. An oven baking cookies can easily raise the room temperature 10 degrees, which in turn jacks up overall cooling costs 2 to 5%. Save cooking (especially baking) for cooler hours, or cook outdoors on your grill. Run the dishwasher and dryer at night. Cost: $0 Benefit: 2 to 5% off your cooling costs

Get Cooler Lights

Incandescent bulbs don't contribute as much heat as unshaded windows, but they do add heat to a house and can raise the perceived temperature. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents. They use about 75% less energy and emit 90% less heat. Cost: $12 to $25 per bulb Benefit: Up to 5% off your cooling bill plus electricity savings

Snug Up the Ducts

Leaky ducts can cut into air-conditioning efficiency. Unless the duct repairs are minor, it's wise to leave them to a HVAC pro. While the contractor is on site checking your ducts, have them tune up the air-conditioning unit by cleaning filters, unplugging coils, unblocking drains and lubing the fan. Cost: $75 to start for a service call Benefit: Up to 40% off your cooling bill

Seal Air Leaks

The places where cold air infiltrates in winter are routes for hot air in summer. Armed with a flashlight, exterior-rated silicone caulk and a couple cans of expanding foam insulation, hunt down and seal all leaks. Concentrate on the attic, basement and crawl space; pay close attention to anything that passes through a ceiling or wall, such as ductwork, electrical or plumbing conduits and kitchen and bath vents. Other common leaky spots are around windows and doors. If you can rattle a window, it's leaking. Seal it with weather stripping. Cost: $6 to $25 Benefit: Up to 10% off your cooling bill US Green Building Council | By David Dobbs | Image cortesy of Freedigitalphotos.net Renaissance Homes is an award winning Street of Dreams custom home builder specializing in green building, remodeling and renovations for the Portland market. Visit our Design Studio to personalize your next home. Awarded the Portland Homebuilder’s Association 2011 “Builder of the Year.”