Illinois can get REALLY hot in the summer, extremely humid, and the sun heats you till 10 pm. Temperatures of 95 degrees with 90% humidity for a month are common. My air conditioner bills in the summer months rival my heating bills for winter.
Any ideas on tips to keep the house cooler, or use less air conditioning without sweating to a hotter room temperature? I've vented my electric dryer outdoors for the summer (we vent it indoors in the winter to reclaim that warm, humid air 12 times a week...) and I've got shades for the southerly and westerly windows to pull down when the sun is burning hot. I've got fans in the house to circulate air and will put smaller fans near common areas.
What things might I look into to keep my house cooler?
Any ideas on tips to keep the house cooler, or use less air conditioning without sweating to a hotter room temperature? I've vented my electric dryer outdoors for the summer (we vent it indoors in the winter to reclaim that warm, humid air 12 times a week...) and I've got shades for the southerly and westerly windows to pull down when the sun is burning hot. I've got fans in the house to circulate air and will put smaller fans near common areas.
What things might I look into to keep my house cooler?