With the recent heat wave and extreme humidity we've been getting, we thought this article by NextStepLiving.com would be perfect for our readers: "Beat the heat without breaking your wallet." Happy reading! 

Let’s face it, energy can be expensive. This time of year, your cooling bills can be nearly half of your utility bill. Don’t despair. There are so many effective and affordable ways to address high utility bills even in the summer heat. Our latest home energy advisor of the month Zak Elgart lays out his top tips for saving money and energy during the dog days of summer:

Turn up the heat. When it comes to staying cool, your comfort is important, but so is your home cooling bill. For the sake of your wallet, it’s important to determine how many degrees you can raise your home’s overall temperature and still stay comfortable. Every additional degree you can handle means more money back in your pocket. And every time you turn it down, that’s money you won’t see again. We don’t want you to bake in the heat, but if your home feels like a meat locker, consider turning up your thermostat a few degrees and see how you feel.

One room at a time. When it comes to air conditioning, don’t waste your energy or money to cool the rooms you don’t spend time in. It’s not worth it. Close the doors and keep the cool air in the areas you use most, like your bedroom. A ductless mini split can help you with room-by-room cooling, but so can well-placed AC units and fans. Just be sure to shut it all off before you leave the room.

(Original article and picture from: http://www.nextstepliving.com/blog/advisor-answers-how-beat-heat-without-breaking-your-wallet)