The Environmental Protection Agency says the typical U.S. household spends nearly 20% of its utility bills on cooling, but it can significantly lower that amount. EPA has its own cooling tips, including installing a programmable thermostat, running ceiling fans counter-clockwise, getting rid of incandescent lights, insulating your home and closing its window curtains or shades when you leave to reduce heat gain. If you absolutely need air conditioning, ServiceMagic offers these five tips for keeping your system running efficiently.












