As the Pacific Northwest heads toward another hot, dry summer, there’s help available now for projects that could keep your home cooler during the hottest months of the year.

During the summer, many of us rely on a single tool like a window AC unit. But keeping your home comfortable and your energy bills lower during extreme heat starts with understanding  how your entire home works together.

Consider a whole-home approach
A whole-home approach means identifying all the ways outdoor heat enters your home and how cool air escapes. When that happens, your AC has to work harder, driving up your energy costs while still potentially leaving entire rooms in your home uncomfortable.

Here are the most common ways heat gets in and cool air escapes:

• Gaps and cracks around things like door and window frames, dryer vents, bathroom fans, and cable and internet lines. Small gaps and cracks are easy to miss but together could mean you’re losing as much air as having a window open around the clock.
• Walls and attics. Many homes, especially older homes, do not have enough insulation to keep cool air in and heat out. Having the right amount of insulation is one of the most important things you can do to keep your home comfortable all year.
• Older windows. Older windows are often single pane with worn seals, so they’re less insulated and create drafts. Newer energy-efficient windows have double or triple panes and better seals, keeping homes comfortable during hot weather.

Where to start and get help
Taking steps before peak summer heat can make all the difference when temperatures climb into triple digits.

Consider these DIY projects:

• Here are easy ways to find and fill those gaps and cracks, keeping more of the heat out and the cool air in.
• Keep the air flowing, by making sure the air filter in your heating and cooling system is clean and that furniture isn’t blocking any vents. That can make your AC work harder.

For larger projects, Energy Trust of Oregon offers incentives that make the longer-term upgrades more affordable. Those include

• Up to 50% off insulation
• $100 off smart thermostats (and an additional $50 off from July 1-August 31)
• Up to $3,000 on energy-saving cooling options like heat pumps
• Discounts for new energy-saving windows

Energy Trust also works with a network of more than 2,000 trusted contractors across Oregon who can help you with these projects and make sure you receive all available incentives. Many contractors can also perform a home energy assessment, helping you identify all the ways you could lower energy costs. You can also complete your own assessment online.

Learn more about incentives and ways to keep your entire home comfortable here: Summer Comfort for your Home.