Tips to keep cool when the heat is on

Yep, the heat is on but don't let the warmer temperatures burn a hole in your wallet. With 72 percent of American homes equipped with air conditioners, the energy experts over at AmerenUE serve up a few tips to average out the higher prices as temperatures rise.

Here are a few suggestions for cost-effectively keeping cool this summer:

• Keep your air conditioner in the shade. To cool your house efficiently, make sure your AC isn't directly in the sun.
• Set your thermostat as high as possible. Aim for the recommended energy efficient summer temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
• Ditch your air conditioner and use use a ceiling or portable fan as much as possible. Ceiling fans generally are more effective in rooms where family members congregate.
• Check the filter on your air conditioner at the beginning of the summer. A clogged filter will use up to fiver percent more energy than a clean one.
• Combat the heat by drawing shades and curtains on particularly hot days.
• Use the exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitched to help reduce the humidity burden on your air conditioner.
• Don't set the thermostat really low if your home is warm because it won't help it cool down any faster. When the AC is on, it runs on the same “speed” regardless of the temperature setting.

Click here for the complete list from AmerenUE.