Last time we talked about how to run your Air Conditioning during the hot summer months without burning the environment, and I’ve got a few more tips that will let you run the A/C at maximum efficiency. If you have the air conditioning on, close all the shades in your house. It seems like a high number, but sun pouring through your windows can account for as much as 40 percent of unwanted heat coming into your home, and if you leave your shades open while running your A/C, you might be making it work two or three times as hard to cool your home to the optimal 78 degree thermostat setting. Another good tip is to make sure you clean your A/C and heater filters on a regular basis.  If they start getting gunky, it's difficult to force air through dirty filters and will take more energy to get your home to your desired temperature, which is bad for the environment and will cost you more money. And finally, if you feel the need to leave the A/C running when you are out of the house so the place doesn't isn't toasty and disgusting when you get home, at least try to raise the thermostat a few degrees from where you'll set it when you are home. It will reduce the amount of energy being used to cool your home, and you will save real money on your energy bill for every single degree you raise the thermostat. And do you really need to make your house or apartment an icebox when you aren't there? You can cool it down when you get home, I promise.