Easy ways to slash your cooling bill!

Power bills have climbed higher this summer, with the average household expected to spend an average of $784 on electricity bills between June and September-the highest cost in a decade, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. Part of this spike is due to rising electricity rates, but another major factor is increased air conditioning use, which accounts for nearly one-fifth of a typical household's energy bill.

- -BY GABRIELLE LICHTERMAN

The good news: Making your air conditioning system run more efficiently can help you lower the cost without sacrificing comfort. Here, Allison A. Bailes III, Ph.D., founder of the building science firm Energy Vanguard (EnergyVanguard.com) and author of A House Needs to Breathe... or Does It? shares simple strategies to boost your A/C's performance.

Lower indoor temps easily

“The first step to trimming the cost of electricity is cutting back on ‘heat gain’—the warmth that builds up in your house from both outdoor and indoor sources,” says Bailes. Reducing trapped heat means your cooling system will run less often and won't have to work as hard. Keep reading for simple ways to outsmart common culprits:

1. Block solar rays

Direct sunlight is the biggest contributor to heat gain in your home, Bailes says. The easy fix: Just close blinds or curtains on windows—especially on the southern-facing side of your home—when the sun hits them directly,