Amp your A/C’S efficiency!

Throw shade at your unit!

Placing your AC unit in a sunny spot, typically the southwest side of your home, forces it to work harder, sending your bill soaring. That’s why air- conditioning pro David Moody (Serviceexperts.com) urges folks to shade each unit with a screen sold in home improvement stores. “Or hang a pretty vertical planter outside your air- conditioning system to shade it,” he says. Taking that one step alone will increase your unit’s efficiency, saving you close to 5% on energy costs.

Boost the benefit by . . . adding SPF to your windows! Window film on windows facing the sunny southwest side of your home reduces indoor temps five to 16 degrees, slashing cooling costs as much as 10%! One option: Gila Heat Control Residential

Window Film, $36, Amazon.com.

Be strategic with fans!

To quickly and easily supercharge your ceiling fan’s cooling power, simply change the direction it rotates, advises Moody. “Setting it backward or counterclockwise will direct hotter air up toward the ceiling and keep cooler air down by you,” he explains, “helping you save up to 40% on cooling costs!” ■ Boost the benefit by . . .“fanning” vents! Place a stand-alone, plug-in fan next to A/C vents. “This boosts your A/C’S range for a lot less energy output than turning the power up,” he says.