During hot weather, it doesn’t take much of a thermostat tweak to send your energy bills soaring. The question is: how can you best manage cooling costs without sacrificing comfort?

“We will be tempted to crank the air conditioner, but it’s a drain on the power grid, an inefficient use of energy, and a huge expense,” says David Mayer, OUC Sustainability Supervisor.  “There are smart ways to stay cool and remain energy efficient.”

You might think your thermostat can handle the task all by itself, but the truth is, it needs a little help to get the job done. So, here are some of the best ways to save energy and beat the heat, based on suggestions from Mayer and government sources:

1. Set thermostat at 78 degrees

A thermostat set at 76 degrees will use up to 15 percent more energy to power air conditioner than it would at 78 degrees.

2. Use ceiling fans

Mayer highly recommends using ceiling fans, although many consumers don’t fully understand how they work. The fan cools you down by triggering evaporation from your skin and forcing warm air away from you. The thing to remember is: fans cool people, not rooms, so it’s best to turn them off when you leave.

Using a ceiling fan can make you feel anywhere from three to eight degrees cooler.

3. Keep direct sunlight out

Window treatments play a big role in allowing you to set your thermostat at a higher temperature and stay cool.

“By using blinds, shades, and drapes, you reduce the amount of radiant (solar) heat coming into your home,” Mayer says. “This translates into a cooler, more comfortable home and allows you to potentially raise your air conditioner temperature setting.”

Every degree that you’re able to raise the A/C temperature setting will help you save between 6% and 8% on your cooling costs. So, a small tweak can add up to big savings on your electric bill.

What kind of window treatments should you use? According to Energy.gov, medium-colored drapes with white-plastic backings can reduce heat gains by 33 percent. With interior blinds, that number jumps to 45 percent.

And, if you’re up for installing an awning, that’s the best solution of all. Window awnings can reduce solar heat gain in the summer by up to 65 percent on south-facing windows and 77 percent on windows that face the setting sun in the west.

To prevent an even larger portion of solar heat from entering your home, Mayer recommends installing window film or solar screens, for which OUC offers a rebate.

“One additional benefit that solar screens offer is the ability to remove them during the winter to naturally heat your home with sunlight,” Mayer elaborates. Another alternative, he notes, is to plant trees on the east and west sides of your home to provide natural shading during the warmer months.

4. Eliminate drafty areas in your home

“Seal drafts to ensure that cold air is not escaping,” he advises. Here’s why: When cold air escapes, your air conditioner has to work harder and you have to set your thermostat lower to achieve the same cooling effect.

Do-it-yourself weather stripping for doors and caulk for windows is cheap and easy to install. Also, make sure to caulk around holes where pipes go into the wall under sinks — a less obvious source of air leaks.

Make sure that your central A/C unit bears the ENERGY STAR® seal. Government statistics show units that have earned the ENERGY STAR rating have higher seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) and energy efficiency ratio (EER) ratings, making them more than 15% more efficient than conventional models.

5. Schedule an energy audit from OUC

“Utilities are excellent partners in making your home more energy efficient and they have a number of incentive and rebate programs for you to take advantage of,” Mayer explains. “These include home energy audits, which are often free or very inexpensive and will show you how to save energy in your home.”

Indeed, OUC offers such a program. Learn three ways OUC can provide an energy audit.

6. Adjust temperatures gradually

When you crank your air conditioner, that sudden blast of cold air may feel nice, but it’s wasteful.

“It’s a much more efficient use of energy to use air conditioning to maintain a stable temperature throughout the day,” he says. “This saves energy because the house doesn’t have to be completely cooled all at once.”

7. Convert to LED bulbs

Some people shy away from using LED bulbs because they are more expensive. But Mayer says you’ll come out ahead financially.

“An LED bulb may cost you about $20, but it will save you as much as $140 over the 20-year life of the bulb,” he says.

For more hot weather tips, click here.