It's logical after all-you probably felt the sun's heat and drew the shades to create a barrier, eliminating a direct hit from its powerful rays. But by closing shades on windows that receive a lot of sun, you can significantly reduce the temperature inside your home, which will prevent you from blasting the AC all day. You can actually reflect heat away from your home by installing shades, drapes, or blinds that are white.

The Department of Energy (DOE) says sunny windows can make your air conditioner work two to three times harder than it would have to otherwise. If you keep the shades drawn on windows that receive a lot of sun during the summer, you could lower your cooling costs by up to 50 percent.

To go a bit greener: Shade your air-conditioning unit as well. If you have an AC unit that sits outside in the sun, consider planting trees or shrubs nearby, or put up a fence to block some of those rays (without blocking airflow, of course). If your system is located on the roof, you might shade it with a screen or trellis. According to the DOE, a shaded room air-conditioning unit can use up to 10 percent less energy than one operating in the sun.

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