Incandescent bulbs are close to extinction since a U.S. ban on production and sales went into effect in 2023. But if you still have them in lamps, chandeliers or overhead fixtures, swap them out with LED bulbs. Roughly 90 percent of the energy consumed by the older bulbs is converted into heat, compared with LEDs at 10 to 20 percent.

Make sure the blades are spinning in the proper direction for summer—that’s counterclockwise, to create a refreshing breeze. “Ceiling fans can bring a room’s temperature down about 2 degrees,” says Craig Carper, a senior communications specialist with Dominion Energy. (In winter, flip the fan’s directional switch to circulate warm air more effectively.)

Window films are thin, transparent laminates that can reduce solar heat by as much as 78 percent; applying a film can keep a room as much as 5 degrees cooler on sunny days. A professional can install high-end films, but check your local hardware store for do-it-yourself options that are easy to apply. Those may not be quite as effective, but for as little as $20 per window, DIY can save you hundreds of dollars. You’ll see the biggest benefits on east- and west-facing windows, which gain more heat from direct sunlight.

A pothos or monstera looks great, but houseplants can add moisture to the air—and humidity indoors makes it feel hotter. In the summer, move the plants outside, in a shaded area, and put a dehumidifier in their place. “Humidity definitely makes things worse,” Tam says. “Forty to 50 percent humidity inside the house will make you feel comfortable. If it reaches 70 to 75 percent, you will feel stuffy.”

On days that aren’t so stifling as to require running the AC, you can create a cooling cross breeze by opening windows on opposite sides of your home or a room. Position a fan in front of one window, pulling air into the house, and another fan at the other window, pointing outward. Box fans work particularly well for this.

Modern LCD and OLED televisions and computer monitors tend to be more energy efficient than their older cousins, and so they emit less heat. One rule of thumb: The thinner the screen, the better. Also, unplug any unused electronics, as they can give off background heat even when they’re turned off.

In some places, a whole-house (or attic) fan can cool more cheaply than air-conditioning. It pulls in air through open windows and pushes hot air out through attic vents. Installation costs $1,700 on average, and you can reduce a home’s temperature by about 10 degrees. But “the whole-house fan definitely works better in drier areas rather than an area with high humidity,” says Angelina Tam, of energy consultation firm CLEAResult.