The summer heat is on and people are trying to look for energy-efficient means to keep themselves cool. One way to do this is to make sure that all your cooling equipment are in good shape and working at the right settings.

Check out the following tips:

Have your cooling equipment checked. Get in touch with your certified technician and schedule an annual inspection of your home's heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. Make sure all of these are at peak operating efficiency. Non-efficient cooling equipment can cost up to 20% more in energy bills.

Buy the right cooling appliance for your room. Make sure the air conditioning unit you buy is the right size for the room it will cool. An A/C unit with too much power only wastes energy. Use Energy Star guidelines to determine how much power you need in purchasing your next A/C unit.

Clean your cooling equipment regularly. Air filters must be cleaned monthly for central air and individual window or wall units. Dirt and dust both prevent effective air flow, resulting in reduced cooling efficiency.

Check the thermostat. Set the thermostat about five degree higher during the workday, especially when no one else is in the area.

Purchase appliances that come with incentives. Many qualifying central air conditioners are eligible for a federal tax credit of 30% of the cost through the end of 2010. Tax credits will include costs such as installation and can go up to a maximum of $1,500 for all projects. Several states also have give out rebates through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

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