Before you turn on the AC: 5 ways to reduce cooling costs this summer

As temperatures rise, many people turn to air conditioning to stay comfortable. That comfort doesn’t have to come with higher energy use or unexpected costs. A few proactive steps taken now can help reduce cooling demand, improve comfort, and ease the strain on your systems before peak AC season arrives.

In this post, we outline five practical, easy-to-implement strategies to help manage cooling costs this summer—from preparing your equipment to making simple adjustments that support more efficient energy use. Whether you’re getting ready for your first hot day or wondering how to save money on air conditioning, these tips can help you stay comfortable while making smarter use of energy.

Seal and insulate your home for energy efficient cooling

Keeping your home cool starts with keeping cool air inside. Gaps and cracks around attics, basements, windows, doors, and framing can allow air to leak in and out of your home, making your cooling system work harder to maintain comfortable temperatures. Air sealing is often the first step, as it targets these leakage points and helps reduce unwanted heat entering your living space.

Once air leaks are addressed, proper insulation helps your home maintain more consistent indoor temperatures during the summer. Together, insulation and air sealing work much like a cooler: the insulation helps keep the cool air in, while sealing prevents it from leaking out. This combination reduces cooling demand, limits drafts, and improves overall comfort, especially during periods of high heat. These improvements also help your cooling system operate more efficiently when it’s needed most.

Through the Mass Save® program, homeowners may be eligible for incentives on approved insulation and air sealing improvements, often identified through a no-cost Home Energy Assessment. These incentives can help make foundational home upgrades more affordable while improving comfort and energy performance.

Upgrade or maintain your equipment to save on air conditioning

Even a well-sealed home relies on a properly functioning system to stay comfortable during hot weather. Regular maintenance can help ensure your air conditioning system is operating as efficiently as possible when cooling demand increases.

Start with simple upkeep, like replacing or cleaning air filters on a regular basis. Dirty filters can restrict airflow and make your system work harder to move air through your home. Scheduling professional maintenance before peak summer temperatures arrive can also help identify issues early and support reliable performance throughout the season.

If your cooling system is older or approaching the end of its lifespan, it may be worth exploring high efficiency options that provide both heating and cooling in one system. Heat pumps, for example, are designed to deliver efficient comfort year-round and are available in a range of configurations depending on your home’s needs.

The Mass Save® Heating Comparison Calculator can help homeowners see how installing a high-efficiency heating system could impact your heating costs and how much it could reduce your carbon emissions.

Use smart thermostats and controls to save on cooling automatically

Smart thermostats can help manage cooling more efficiently by automatically adjusting temperatures based on schedules, occupancy, or outdoor conditions. Instead of running your system at full capacity all day, these controls can help reduce unnecessary cooling while maintaining comfort, especially during the hottest parts of the day.

For homes with central air conditioning or heat pumps, eligible smart thermostats can also be enrolled in the Mass Save® ConnectedSolutions program. Through this program, Mass Save® Sponsors will send signals to enrolled thermostats during periods of peak electricity, typically on the hottest summer days. These signals allow for small, temporary temperature adjustments designed to reduce electricity use during peak periods, which helps to save energy, maintain system efficiency for your community, and reduce pollution.

Reduce internal heat sources to increase efficiency

Cooling your home isn’t just about how your air conditioning system runs, it’s also influenced by the heat generated inside your living space. Everyday activities and appliances can add to indoor heat, increasing the amount of cooling your system needs to provide.

Simple habits can help limit excess indoor heat, especially during peak summer temperatures. While today’s energy efficient lighting produces far less heat than older bulbs, minimizing the use of heat-generating appliances during the hottest parts of the day, such as cooking with the oven or running the dryer, can make it easier to keep indoor temperatures comfortable.

Make your home work for you to maximize cooling and savings

Your home’s design and airflow can play an important role in maintaining comfort, sometimes with no equipment changes at all. Simple adjustments to how and when you manage sunlight, air, and circulation can help reduce heat buildup during the warmest parts of the day.

Using blinds, shades, or curtains strategically can help block direct sunlight during peak afternoon heat. When outdoor temperatures are cooler, opening windows on opposite sides of your home can create a cross breeze that promotes natural ventilation and helps move warm air out.

Fans can also support this airflow. Setting fans to move cooler air through living spaces, while encouraging warmer air to exit, can improve comfort and help reduce reliance on air conditioning.

Bottom Line

A few proactive steps taken early can make summer comfort easier to manage while helping reduce energy use as temperatures rise. From preparing your home and equipment to making small day-to-day adjustments, these strategies can help take some of the stress out of cooling season.

Many of these improvements may be supported by Mass Save rebates, incentives, and services. Homeowners can schedule a no-cost Home Energy Assessment to help prioritize cooling upgrades and, where available, explore turnkey offerings that can help streamline eligible improvements from assessment through installation.

Visit MassSave.com to explore cooling resources, incentives, and support available to Massachusetts residents.