Keep home cool with energy efficient strategies

Strategies such as eliminating air leakage, upgrading attic insulation, and installing a new air conditioning system and ceiling fans help keep your home cool efficiently, and can help save on energy costs in the process. On average, heating and cooling a home costs about $1,000 a year, nearly half the total energy bill for the house, the Environmental Protection Agency reports.

Through 2010, a federal tax credit is available for energy efficiency upgrades for insulation, windows, central air conditioners and heat pumps.

The credit refunds 30 percent of the purchase price for energy-efficient products, up to a total of $1,500. Homeowners can use the tax credit for cooling systems, and many local power companies offer rebates for installing more efficient products.

BEST PRACTICES

There are many ways to make sure your home stays cool in the best way possible, without buying a new air conditioning systems or adding ceiling fans.

First, check to make sure your attic is properly insulated. An uninsulated attic allows too much cool air to escape and too much warm air to enter. Adding or updating the insulation is one of the easiest ways to make a home more energy efficient.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, upgrading inefficient insulation in the attic of a two-story, 2,000 square foot home in Chicago can cost around $1,000, but the tax credit lowers that cost to $700.

Added to an energy efficient rebate from MidAmerican Energy in Chicago for up to $600, the cost can drop to $100. That project will save about $51 in annual utility costs, the NAHB said.

Another tip is to cover windows with shades or blinds, to keep hot sunlight out.