Exterior walls and the roofs should be light colors, white and shiny aluminum are the best since these colors reflect most of the heat that strikes the building surface. Dark, heat-absorbing colors such as black, red, green, brown and blue are not as effective. These features can be replaced as normal wear and tear dictates.

Shading windows with awnings, exterior reflective screens and films and interior films, blinds and shades further reduces heat gain. All are readily available, many models are inexpensive and easy to install. Several models of shades and screens are adjustable and can be removed for cleaning and/or storage when needed.

Minimizing heat gain and loss due to a leaky house can save up to one fifth of the cooling budget, and is the easiest and cheapest way to save energy. Check all cracks, holes, openings and seams for leaks and seal with caulk or weather stripping regularly. All doors and windows ought to be weather-proofed with suitable and well maintained weather stripping. Local hardware and home improvement stores stock several varieties of weather stripping applications. Window and door jambs, duct work, and sill plate, where wall and floor meet behind baseboards, plumbing, telephone, and electrical entrances and exits, and vents are a few examples of where household leaks occur most frequently. Electrical outlets can be sealed with gaskets to reduce air flow.

Replace high energy use heating and cooling system with a high efficientcy SEER 10 or greater heat unit. For example, replacing an older model SEER 5 heat pump with a new SEER 12 can save up to 58%, or $1,030 per year, of the cost of cooling a typical Phoenix area home.

The most efficient heating and cooling system will not perform properly if it is poorly maintained. It is important and inexpensive to change or clean filters regularly, at least once per month. Poor air flow due to clogged filters forces the unit to work much harder and use more power. Twice yearly inspections, once before each summer and winter season, by a qualified technician will help insure correct operation.

Set the thermostat at a comfortable and reasonable setting. To determine a reasonable summertime setting consider that the member utilities of the Arizona Heat Pump Council estimate a 2% to 5% savings on the cooling portion of a typical utility bill for every degree the thermostat is set above 80 degrees.

Electronically programmable thermostats are availabe to control temperature for various times of the day when higher or lower temperatures are desirable for comfort and/or energy savings. During the winter it is recommended to set the thermostat between 68 and 70 degrees, and leave it alone. Turning the unit off or too low may result in frost build up on the outside coil and decreased heat pump efficiency.

Adequate insulation is important to keep interiors comfortable and minimize energy use for heating and cooling. Many homes can be retrofitted with insulation in the attic, if one exists. Homes with flat roofs are difficult to improve without making major and costly changes, as are preexisting walls, but products and qualified contractors are availabe to improve the insulation capacity of these types of roofs and walls as well.

Attractive and inexpensive ceiling fans are widely available and are very economical to operate. Generating a slight breeze with a ceiling fan circulates warm air away from occupants and increases the effect of the body's evaporative cooling.