I recently swapped out some old single-pane windows for double-pane ones with low-E glass, and honestly, it's made a noticeable difference in how often the AC kicks on. Here's what I did: first, shopped around for energy-efficient models with good insulation ratings. Then had them professionally installed (wasn't brave enough to DIY, lol). Also added some weather stripping around the frames just to be safe. Anyone else done something similar or maybe have other tricks for keeping cooling costs down?
Nice move upgrading those windows—I did something similar a couple years back, and it definitely helped, especially during those brutal heatwaves. But honestly, what made an even bigger difference for me was adding some reflective window film on the south-facing windows. It wasn't too pricey, and it noticeably cut down on the heat coming in during peak sun hours. Plus, it was easy enough to DIY without messing things up too badly (trust me, I'm no handyman either, lol).
One thing I haven't tried yet is planting shade trees strategically around the house. I've heard it can significantly reduce cooling costs over time, but obviously it's more of a long-term solution. Has anyone here actually done this and seen real results? Curious if it's worth the effort...