Cool your home
28 ways to keep your home cooler, cut summer bills, and ride out power outages, from free fixes renters can do today to big-ticket projects. Sort and filter to find what fits your home and budget.
Start with the cheapest heat you never let in. In Phoenix, the order that usually pays off: shade windows on the east, west, and south sides; seal and insulate the attic; keep your AC maintained; then think about bigger systems and backup power. A home energy assessment can tell you where your house leaks the most.
Rebates & tax credits (checked Oct 10, 2026): SRP currently offers rebates on shade screens and window film ($1/sq ft), cool roofs (30¢/sq ft, up to $600), attic insulation (75%, up to $600), duct repair (up to $400), high-efficiency AC and heat pumps ($75–$225/ton), smart thermostats ($50 + $25/yr), and free shade trees. Most SRP rebates run through April 30, 2027. APS scaled back its efficiency incentives after a December 2025 regulatory decision. Its Cool Rewards thermostat program ($50 + $35/season) is still listed. Check aps.com for anything current. Federal: the 25C energy-efficiency and 25D clean-energy tax credits ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025 (IRS). Income-qualified households may get help through the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program via Efficiency Arizona and through the federal Weatherization Assistance Program. Programs change often, so confirm with your utility before you buy.
Price tiers are our rough estimate of a typical whole-home project, based on the cited cost ranges. Costs are national averages from cost guides unless they're marked Arizona. Get several local quotes. Effectiveness (1–5) is our editorial rating of each upgrade's impact on indoor heat and outage resilience in Phoenix, based on the cited figures.
Mesh screens on the outside of sun-facing windows that block much of the sun's heat before it reaches the glass.
About 50% of the heat entering a home comes through windows (SRP), and exterior screens stop it outside the glass. SRP's rebate requires screens that block at least 80% of solar heat gain.
Rebates / credits: SRP: $1 per sq ft rebate on qualifying shade screens or window film (by Apr 30, 2027).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · SRP rebate
Thin film applied to glass that rejects solar heat and UV while letting light through.
About 76% of sunlight hitting standard double-pane windows becomes heat indoors (DOE). Film cuts that at the glass, though less than exterior shading.
Rebates / credits: SRP: $1 per sq ft (film with SHGC ≤ 0.4 on sun-struck windows; by Apr 30, 2027).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · DOE window attachments · SRP rebate
Fixed or retractable awnings over south- and west-facing windows and patios.
DOE: awnings can reduce summer solar heat gain by up to 65% on south windows and 77% on west windows.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · DOE window attachments
Tensioned fabric sails that shade patios, play areas, and sun-baked walls or windows.
Shading walls, windows, and outdoor living space reduces heat absorbed by the home (DOE recommends shading roofs, walls, and windows in hot-arid regions). Effect depends on placement.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · DOE landscaping
A white or reflective coating (or cool-rated roofing) that reflects sunlight instead of absorbing it.
A reflective roof can stay more than 50°F cooler than a conventional roof in the sun (DOE). EPA says cool roofs can cut peak cooling demand 11–27% in air-conditioned homes.
Rebates / credits: SRP: 30¢ per sq ft, up to $600, for qualifying CRRC-rated products on low-slope roofs (by Apr 30, 2027).
Sources: Origin Roofing cost guide · DOE cool roofs · EPA cool roofs · SRP rebate
Add insulation on the attic floor to slow heat moving from a 150°F+ attic into your rooms.
ENERGY STAR estimates sealing and insulating saves an average 15% on heating and cooling costs. SRP estimates about 10%. It also keeps the home cooler longer during an outage.
Rebates / credits: SRP: 75% of cost, up to $600, through a participating BPI-certified contractor (with air sealing).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · ENERGY STAR · SRP rebate
Reflective foil installed in the attic (usually under the roof deck) that blocks radiant heat from the hot roof.
DOE: some studies show radiant barriers can reduce cooling costs 5–10% in warm, sunny climates.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · DOE radiant barriers
Vents or a powered or solar attic fan that exhaust superheated attic air.
Mainly lowers attic temperature. It does far less for living spaces than insulation and air sealing, which stop the heat getting in.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: HomeAdvisor cost
Caulk gaps and weatherstrip doors and windows so hot outside air stays out and cool air stays in.
DOE: caulking and weatherstripping often pay for themselves in a year or less. Combined with insulation, ENERGY STAR estimates 15% heating and cooling savings.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · DOE air sealing · ENERGY STAR
Find and seal leaky AC ducts (often in the hot attic) so cooled air reaches your rooms.
About 20% of the air moving through a typical duct system is lost to leaks, according to ENERGY STAR (cited by SRP). In Phoenix, those leaks dump cooled air into a superheated attic.
Rebates / credits: SRP: covers up to $400 in qualified duct repairs.
Sources: HomeGuide cost · SRP rebates blog
Moving air makes you feel cooler, so you can set the thermostat higher.
DOE: a ceiling fan lets you raise the thermostat about 4°F without losing comfort. Fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · DOE fans
Yearly professional tune-up plus regular filter changes and a clear outdoor coil.
DOE: dirty, clogged filters reduce airflow and efficiency. Reliability is the big reason: in 2025, among indoor heat deaths in Maricopa County with an AC unit present, it wasn't working in 72% of cases (MCDPH).
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · DOE AC maintenance · MCDPH 2025 report
Schedule and pre-cool the house before peak hours, and control it remotely.
DOE: setting the thermostat back 7–10°F for 8 hours a day can save up to 10% a year. Pre-cooling before peak pricing can also cut bills on time-of-use plans.
Rebates / credits: SRP Bring Your Own Thermostat: $50 bill credit per thermostat (max 2) + $25/yr. APS Cool Rewards: $50 one-time + $35 per season.
Sources: HomeGuide cost · DOE thermostats · SRP BYOT · APS Cool Rewards
Replace an aging system with a high-efficiency (ideally variable-capacity) heat pump that cools and heats.
DOE: high-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central ACs, giving more comfort for less energy. A new system is also less likely to fail mid-summer.
Rebates / credits: SRP Cool Cash: $75–$225 per ton depending on efficiency tier (by Apr 30, 2027). Income-qualified households: see Efficiency Arizona (HEAR).
Sources: HomeAdvisor cost · DOE heat pumps · SRP Cool Cash
Cools by evaporating water into dry outdoor air, then blowing it through the house with windows cracked.
DOE: evaporative coolers cost about half as much to install as central AC and use about a quarter of the energy, but only work well in low humidity. They lose much of their punch during Phoenix's humid monsoon season.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · DOE evaporative coolers
Desert-adapted trees that shade walls, windows, and the AC unit as they grow.
DOE: carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of the energy a typical household uses. Benefits grow over the years as the canopy fills in.
Rebates / credits: SRP: two free trees after a free workshop. See Shade & Grow.
Sources: DOE landscaping · SRP Shade Tree Program
Repaint dark exterior walls a light, reflective color.
Light colors reflect more sunlight (DOE notes white roofing reflects about 60–90%). Walls get less direct sun than the roof, so expect a smaller effect than a cool roof.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: Angi cost · DOE cool roofs
Thick, light-backed curtains you close on sunny windows during the day.
DOE: medium-colored draperies with white plastic backings can reduce heat gains by 33%. Interior coverings work best combined with exterior shading.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · DOE window attachments
Shades with air-trapping cells that insulate the window.
DOE: tightly fitted cellular shades can reduce unwanted solar heat through windows by up to 60%.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · DOE window attachments
Replace old single-pane or failing windows with dual-pane, low-E, low-SHGC units.
DOE: heat gain and loss through windows account for 25–30% of residential heating and cooling energy use. Expensive per degree saved compared with shading existing windows.
Rebates / credits: SRP says it does not rebate windows (consider shade screens instead).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · DOE windows · SRP rebates blog
A large attic-mounted fan that pulls cooler outdoor air through open windows and pushes hot air out the attic.
Only helps when outdoor air is cooler than indoor air. That makes it useful in Phoenix spring and fall nights, but not on summer nights that stay hot, or during dust and smoke events.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: WholeHouseFan.com cost guide
Panels that generate electricity and offset your bills.
Cuts bills, but most grid-tied systems shut off during an outage for line-worker safety unless they're paired with a battery, so on its own it adds little blackout resilience.
Rebates / credits: Federal 25D (30%) residential clean energy credit ended for systems installed after Dec 31, 2025.
Sources: HomeGuide cost · IRS OBBB FAQ · EnergySage storage guide
A home battery (often paired with solar) that keeps critical circuits running during an outage.
Keeps fans, fridge, medical devices, lights, and possibly some AC running in a blackout. Running central AC for long periods needs large capacity and solar recharging.
Rebates / credits: Federal 25D credit ended after Dec 31, 2025. APS's Bring Your Own Device pilot and SRP's Battery Partner Program pay rewards for letting batteries support the grid. Check current terms.
Sources: EnergySage cost · KJZZ on APS programs
A rechargeable battery box (no fumes) for fans, phones, CPAP, lights, and a small fridge.
Safe indoors, unlike generators. Can't run central AC, but keeps fans, medical devices, and communication going during outages.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: UDPOWER price guide · Phoenix Survival Guide: Blackout
Portable or standby generator for longer outages. Always used outdoors with CO alarms inside.
Can power essentials (and AC, with a large standby unit) for days. Carbon monoxide is deadly: CDC says never run one indoors or in a garage, and keep it at least 20 feet from windows and doors.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: HomeGuide cost · CDC carbon monoxide
Replace dark rock, pavement, or bare dirt next to walls with shade plants, mulch, or lighter, cooler materials.
Hot surfaces next to the house radiate heat onto walls and windows. EPA notes shaded surfaces can be 20–45°F cooler than unshaded ones at peak.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: EPA trees & vegetation
Choose one interior, low, shaded room as the household's refuge: blackout curtains, fans, a power station, water, and medical supplies ready.
Focusing limited cooling and backup power on one well-shaded space is more achievable than cooling a whole house during an outage. Leave for a cooling center if it gets too hot.
No verified APS/SRP rebate or federal credit found (Oct 2026).
Sources: Phoenix Survival Guide: Heat
A pro inspection (often with a blower-door test) that finds your home's biggest heat leaks.
Doesn't cool anything by itself, but tells you which upgrades will matter most in your house before you spend money.
Rebates / credits: SRP offers a Home Energy Assessment program. Check SRP for current pricing.
Sources: HomeGuide cost · SRP Customer Programs Report
No upgrades match those filters. Try removing one.
Safety first: see Generator Skills before buying or using one. Never run a generator, grill, or camp stove indoors or in a garage. Use a licensed electrician for transfer switches and battery systems. If your home gets dangerously hot and you can't cool it, go to a cooling center (dial 211) and see the Heat guide.