When the news fills with heat advisories, there are things you can do to make your home more comfortable and keep your electricity bill from rising like hot air.

Be proactive with precooling. Opening windows overnight or early in the morning (so long as it’s safe to do so) then shutting them before the temperatures rise will trap cool air inside. If opening windows isn’t an option (or during heatwaves when overnight temperatures stay high) you can precool your home in cooler parts of the day. Air conditioners operate more efficiently in cooler weather, and they can condition the air to a lower temperature more efficiently when temps outside are lower.

Be cool, not cold. Focus on being comfortable, not chilly in your home. Every degree you raise your thermostat saves you energy. Leaving the thermostat at 75 degrees strikes a good balance between personal comfort and affordability all summer long.

Set your air conditioner to “auto” instead of “on” for more efficient operation. Auto tells the AC unit to lower your home’s ambient temperature to the one you selected. It’ll shut-off once it reaches it and kick on as needed to maintain your desired temperature. That prevents the system from running continuously and wasting energy.

Remember the 20-degree rule with air conditioning. Most AC systems can’t lower an interior’s temperature to less than about 20 degrees than the outdoor temperature. So, if it’s 95 degrees outside and your thermostat is set to 70, your system might run all day and never reach it, but it’ll keep costing you money. Setting your air conditioner to within 15 degrees of the day’s highest temperature will balance energy efficiency and lower costs.

Fans are your friends. Whether on the ceiling or the floor, fans use a fraction of the energy of air conditioning but can be just as effective at helping you cool off on a warm day. If your home has central air, setting the thermostat to “fan” can create a comforting draft throughout the house without the extra energy usage of running AC. When the outdoor temperature is low, accelerate the heat exchange process by sticking a box fan in one or more of the windows. Even one fan blowing outside air inside is enough to speed up the cooling process, just remember to leave other windows open too.

Treat your home like a cooler. That is to say, the goal is keep it cool and shut tight. Shut the windows and shut the blinds or the drapes on the sunny side of your home — those are typically the south and west sides, to stop the sun from warming indoor spaces. It’s even better to shade windows from the outside, using something like outdoor blinds, shutters or awnings. Blocking those warming sunrays will limit the greenhouse effect and keep your house cooler longer. When the sun goes down in the evening, open the windows and let cool air blow through your home. However, don’t forget safety. Window screens are not strong enough to protect against falls and it’s important to make sure there are no small children near open windows.

Avoid making residual heat. Cooking and baking releases a lot of heat. To make things more difficult, the hottest time of the day in Southwest Washington is around 5 p.m. — just in time for dinner. When possible, avoid using the stovetop or the oven and look to smaller appliances like air fryers, toaster ovens or head outside and fire up the barbeque. With all the locally grown fruits and vegetables offered in the summer, it’s the perfect season to skip the stove entirely and try your hand at some cold-prep meals like savory salads and soups. Gazpacho, anyone?

Hit the town or the showers. Lots of places around town offer air conditioning. If your home just can’t cool enough, consider visiting the library, the mall, going to a movie or a community center for a few hours. Running through the sprinklers in your yard might earn some funny looks from the neighbors, but there’s no beating the immediate relief of cool water. If you’re too hot, a quick, cool shower might be just what you need. For longer-lasting relief, leave your hair a little damp and sit in front of the fan.

Most of all, stay hydrated and check on elderly, at -risk friends and neighbors to make sure they’re keeping cool and safe.

The Clark Public Utilities Energy Counselor of the Day is always available to offer tips to saving energy and staying comfortable. Contact them at [email protected] or 360-992-3355 during business hours. Information is always available at any time at www.clarkpublicutilities.com.