Here are some tips to minimize your cooling costs and increase cooling efficiency...

Close drapes to keep out the hot daytime sun, especially on south and west-facing windows. Sunny windows make air conditioners work 2 to 3 times harder.

Inspect your furnace filter once per month and change it as needed.

Make sure air registers are not blocked by furniture, drapes, or other household items.

Don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense.

Consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing your power use.

Don't place lamps, TV sets, or computers near your thermostat. The thermostat senses the heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.

Plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units but not to block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.