Whether you are looking to save money or are interested in helping to preserve the planet and having a smaller carbon footprint, it makes good sense to look for ways to save energy, including tips about saving on your air conditioning bill. What are some of the things you can do to lower your cooling or heating bill? If it is air conditioning, one thing you can do is start outside. That is, plant some trees or bushes that will provide shade. Having shade keeps your AC from having to start with a thermostat that is way too high. Another thing to do is to have curtains or blinds in your windows. Personally, I like to use insulated curtains, otherwise known as blackout drapes, because they really do keep out the sun and the light oh, and I know for sure that my AC does not have to work so hard when I have the blackout curtains closed. Another thing to do is to make sure that you change the AC air filter on a regular basis. Personally, I have a dog, and I prefer to change my AC filters every month. Other people do not find that their AC filter is at all dirty after a month. If that is the case for you, you can possibly stretch it to three months, but even if your AC filter does not look dirty after three months, you should still change it. Another thing to do to save on your air conditioning and have your home be more efficient is to Use ceiling fans to your advantage. I have never had a house without ceiling fans down here in the Southeast, and I never will. Sitting under a ceiling fan makes you feel cooler even though the temperature is not any lower than it is without the fan. This means you can have your thermostat set a few degrees higher and still be just as comfortable.