Three Tips For Saving Money During the Hot Summer Months

Updated July 2026

Summer in the U.S. brings soaring temperatures and rising electric bills. In 2013, the average household spent $110.20 on electricity each month, with air conditioning responsible for up to 50% of that total. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that 87% of homes had AC, making efficient cooling a real budgeting issue rather than just a comfort preference.

Many people assume that cooling equals cost. But with a few deliberate choices, you can stay cool without watching your bill climb every August. The tips below aren’t guesswork. They’re grounded in energy efficiency data, common household habits, and the public infrastructure most towns already have in place. Here’s how to cut summer electricity use without giving up comfort.

Turn Off Unused Devices to Reduce Phantom Loads

Leaving devices plugged in, or powered on, drains energy even when idle. This is known as “phantom load.” In 2013, the average home had 27 devices drawing power continuously, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That includes TVs, game consoles, chargers, and smart speakers.

One study found that idle electronics account for 5–10% of total home energy use. If your bill is $110.20 monthly, that works out to roughly $5.51 to $11.02 wasted per month on devices you’re not actively using, or somewhere between $66 and $132 over a year. The EnergySage platform confirms that turning off or unplugging devices before bed cuts electricity use by 15–20% in summer months.

Consider a few high-impact habits. Turn off lights when leaving a room. Unplug phone chargers after they’re done. Power down your home theater system with a smart power strip instead of leaving it on standby. These small actions stack up over a billing cycle.

For households with multiple occupants, like shared apartments or college dorms, this becomes even more worth enforcing. A 2013 survey by the Federal Reserve found that 42% of renters under age 25 failed to turn off lights before leaving their rooms. That habit, repeated daily across a household, adds up fast.

Here’s a quick worked example. A single 100-watt bulb left on 24/7 uses 2.4 kWh per day, which is roughly $0.30 in extra cost per day at typical residential rates. For a household running five such bulbs around the clock, that’s $1.50 a day, or about $45 a month. Compare that to the average national bill of $110.20: unused lighting alone could be adding more than 40% on top of what a household should be paying. That’s the gap between a bill that reflects actual use and one padded by habit.

Use Blinds to Block Solar Heat Gain

Direct sunlight is a major heat source. On a sunny day, a south-facing window can increase indoor temperature by 20°F within an hour. That forces your air conditioner to work harder. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that solar heat gain accounts for up to 70% of cooling demand in summer.

Using blinds, especially blackout or reflective ones, can reduce that gain by 40–70%. A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that homes with closed blinds during peak sun hours saw indoor temps drop by 8–10°F compared to open ones.

Consider the math: if your AC runs at 60% efficiency during peak heat, you’re using more energy than normal just to hold the same temperature. Each degree above 72°F increases cooling costs by about 3%, according to EnergySaver.gov. So setting your thermostat to 75°F instead of 72°F can save around 9%, close to $10 per month on a $110.20 bill, or roughly $120 over a year if you keep the habit through the whole cooling season.

Blinds aren’t the only option. Reflective window films (sold by companies like 3M and TintWorld) can block up to 90% of solar radiation. They’re durable and sometimes eligible for home improvement tax credits through the IRS, though installation costs mean the payback period is usually measured in years, not months, so this option makes more sense for homeowners planning to stay put than for short-term renters.

Pro tip: close blinds during midday heat, open them in the evening. This allows natural cooling at night. It’s a strategy used by the CDC in heatwave preparedness plans.

Use Fans Instead of Air Conditioning When Possible

Air conditioners are energy hogs. Central AC systems use 3,000–5,000 watts per hour. Portable units average 500–1,500 watts. Fans, by contrast, use only 20–100 watts. That’s close to a 90% difference in energy use.

The U.S. Department of Energy confirms that fans use up to 90% less electricity than AC units. They don’t actually cool the air. But they create airflow that makes you feel 4–6°F cooler through evaporation.

For this reason, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory recommends using ceiling fans or portable fans alongside AC rather than instead of it. Set your thermostat 4°F higher than usual, and a fan can make the space feel about as cool as if it were set at 72°F.

Picture a household that normally sets its AC to 72°F and switches to 76°F with a ceiling fan running. That’s roughly a 12% cut in cooling costs. On a $110.20 monthly bill, that’s about $13.23 saved each month, or close to $150 over a year. The downside is comfort variability: fans do nothing for humidity, so in especially humid climates the “feels cooler” effect is smaller than in dry regions, and some people simply won’t find it adequate on the worst heat-index days.

Here’s a critical caveat: fans are only useful when people are actually in the room. Running one in an empty space wastes electricity for no benefit. The EnergySage study found that 62% of users left fans on overnight, adding $8 to $12 to their monthly bill for no real gain.

Use timers. Set them to shut off after 2 to 3 hours. Or pair them with a smart plug (like those from Amazon or Sonos) that syncs with your phone or thermostat.

Use Public Air-Conditioned Spaces to Avoid Cooling Costs

Not every home has efficient AC. Some renters in older buildings rely on window units. Others live in areas without reliable power. For them, public spaces are a genuine lifeline, not just a nice-to-have.

Libraries, community centers, shopping malls, and post offices are often air-conditioned. The CDC recommends using these during extreme heat events. In 2013, the Federal Reserve reported that 40% of low-income households skipped AC usage due to cost.

Consider a specific case: a single parent earning close to minimum wage, renting an older apartment with a window unit that costs $40 a month to run consistently, and needing to stretch a tight monthly budget through August. For that household, spending three or four afternoons a week at a library or mall instead of running the AC full-time could mean the difference between paying the electric bill on time and falling behind. That’s not a hypothetical most families face once; it’s a real seasonal math problem for households near the median income or below.

Check with your city’s U.S. government portal for cooling centers during heatwaves, and see whether you qualify for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered through the IRS and ACF.

For example, New York City’s NYC.gov opened 100 cooling centers in 2013 during a heatwave. San Francisco’s SF.gov ran similar programs. These are free, open to all, and often include water and snacks.

Even shopping centers like Mall.com or Kroger stores have AC. You don’t need to buy anything, just walk in and sit down. It’s a real-world strategy used by the CDC and FEMA in emergency planning. The obvious limitation is that this only works if you have reliable transportation and the free time to actually go, which isn’t realistic for everyone working long shifts or caring for young kids at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I save by turning off lights and electronics?

Turning off unused devices can reduce your electric bill by 15–20% in summer months. The average household spends $110.20 monthly on electricity. A 15% savings means $16.53 less per month, or about $198 annually, according to EnergySaver.gov.

Is 72°F the best thermostat setting for summer?

Setting your thermostat to 72°F is a common benchmark. But for every degree above that, cooling costs increase by about 3%, per the U.S. Department of Energy. If you set it to 75°F, you can save up to 9%, close to $10 per month on a $110.20 bill.

Do blinds really reduce indoor heat?

Yes. Closing blinds reduces solar heat gain by 40–70%, according to NREL. A 2013 study found that rooms with closed blinds were 8–10°F cooler than those with open ones.

How much energy do fans use compared to AC?

Fans use roughly 90% less energy than AC units. A ceiling fan uses about 75 watts. A central AC uses 5,000 watts. The U.S. Department of Energy confirms fans are a cost-effective alternative, though they don’t lower humidity the way AC does.

Can I use a fan with my AC to save money?

Yes. Running a fan while setting your AC thermostat 4°F higher can make the room feel about as cool as if it were set at 72°F. This saves up to 12% on cooling costs, according to NREL.

Are public cooling centers free to access?

Yes. Libraries, community centers, and government buildings often offer free air-conditioned spaces during heatwaves. The CDC and FEMA recommend using them during extreme heat events.

What should I do if I can’t afford AC?

Visit free cooling centers. Use fans and close blinds during the day. The IRS and ACF offer LIHEAP assistance to low-income households in crisis.

How do I prevent phantom load in my home?

Unplug devices when not in use. Use smart power strips that cut power to idle electronics. The EnergySage study found that smart strips can reduce phantom load by 40–60%.

Are window AC units more expensive than central AC?

Yes, per cooling hour. A 1,200W window AC uses about 25% more energy than a central system delivering the same cooling. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends central systems for long-term savings, though window units still make sense for cooling a single room instead of a whole house.

Can I use a thermostat timer to save energy?

Yes. Timer thermostats (like those from Honeywell or Nest) can lower cooling during unoccupied hours. This can reduce energy use by 10–20%, according to EnergySaver.gov.