Summer Savings: 6 Ways to Save Money and Stay Cool

Open windows, use fans, and create a cooling cross-breeze. Or employ a muscular hunk to waft you with a gigantic palm frond.

Give your refrigerator a fighting chance. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from the stove or dishwasher. Close blinds and curtains in the kitchen. See the difference on your energy bill.

Nicer weather offers no excuses. Walk, run, bike to work. You'll save money — a lot, with today's gas prices — and plenty of C02.

If AC is a must, invest in a central air-conditioning unit with a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of 14 or higher. You could reduce your carbon-dioxide emissions by more than 1,500 pounds a year.

Invest in compact fluorescent lightbulbs. They'll produce 60% less heat than incandescents, while saving you an average $180 per year (Source: Energystar.gov).