As the temperature rises, so does the cost of keeping cool. But there are ways to cut your home’s air-conditioning bill and save energy too—or skip the AC all together.

Bryan Muenzer of Enfield EnergyEmporium had some great tips for keeping cool on his company’s blog a few years ago, and he says I can share them with you. 

1. Drink water. Not soda, not juice, not lemonade—water. Staying hydrated is probably the best way to beat the heat, as it aids in your body’s natural cooling ability. Water is by far the best thing to drink; anything sugary can actually reduce your cells’ ability to absorb water.
2. Find a breeze. Open some windows or turn on a fan if you need to. Sweating alone doesn’t cool you down. It’s the evaporation on your skin that does the trick. Moving air makes this process more efficient.
3. Take a dip. Head for your favorite swimming hole and dive in. Water conducts heat away from the body 25 times faster than air does. An hour-long swim in cold water can help keep your body cool for several hours, even after you’ve dried off. Don’t know of any local swimming holes? Find one at www.swimmingholes.org. A pool works too or a cool shower or tub.
4. Go to the movies. Think of all that money you’re saving by not running the AC, plus you get to treat the family to a film. Go during the hottest part of the day (early afternoon); eat as much popcorn as you like (but watch the salt and butter!). Don’t forget to skip the soda.

Want more tips? Here are a few I’ve found helpful for staying cool and saving money with or without the AC:

• Get growing! Shade plays a key role in keeping a house cool. Planting shade trees on the south and west sides of the home can cut air conditioning costs inside. Smaller, ornamental trees planted to shade windows and smaller parts of the house are also a good idea. (Plants that drop their leaves will allow the sun to help warm your house in the winter too.)

• Close the curtains, shades, or blinds when the sun shines. Tinted or low-E window film applied directly to the glass also helps.

• Switch to compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs. Not only do they save on energy costs—they also give off less heat than incandescent bulbs.

• Use a slow cooker. Eating grilled food can get tiresome after a while. A slow cooker allows you to change your menu without heating up the kitchen.

Thanks, Bryan, for the tips! You can visit him at Enfield Energy Emporium for more helpful money-saving information.