One challenge of cutting summertime air-conditioning costs is to find a method that doesn't include turning up the thermostat and sweating.

Extension engineers at Kansas State University recommend homeowners start by blocking the season's hot sunlight. They list the following as good possibilities:

* Block the sun with overhangs, awnings, shutters or plants (generally trees). By reducing the heat gain through windows, this can cut cooling costs 15-20 percent.

* Install meshed or mini-louver styles of solar-screening material. It can block 30-70 percent of sunlight.

* Try light-blocking window shades or curtains indoors, but remember most interior approaches turn some of the energy they intercept into heat inside the home.

* Try reflective films, but only with care and dealer/manufacturer input. Reflective films generally work well on single-glazed windows, but must be removed in winter so sunlight can help heat the home. Keep in mind that film on thermopane, insulated or tinted windows can cause cracking, due to changes in the expansion or heat-absorption rates of the glass.