When the weather is warm, a central or window air-conditioning system can provide much needed relief from the heat of the day. However, running an air conditioner throughout the day can not only drive electric bills skyhigh, but also release destructive carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which damages the environment and our health. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling systems in the United States release over a half billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year, which contributes to global warming. Fortunately, there are several inexpensive and much more environmentally friendly ways to beat the heat without air conditioning.

Trees and other vegetation can act as a natural home-cooling device by sheltering your house with shade. Although some trees do require an extended time span to grow large enough to provide ample shade, there are many fast-growing ones, including willow oak and red maple, which can start shading your home in just a couple of years. Talk to a garden professional for the best fast-growing trees for your location, and then install them on the southern and western sides of your property to ensure the greatest shade benefit.

Window treatments consist of shades, blinds and insulated drapes. Although these items can be decorative in your home, they serve a much more important purpose of keeping your home cool. The best thing to do is to have your windows covered during the hottest part of the day or when intense light is coming through the window. This will cut down on your cooling expenses. If you use drapes, keep them snuggly fitted close to the window to get the most significant benefit. Also, light colored window treatments are a smart choice since they won't soak up the heat entering from the window.

Shade screens, which are also known as sun screens and solar shields, are constructed to reject heat and sunlight, and block up to 90% of the sun's rays. Although on the costly side, lightweight and durable shade screens are well worth their cost because in addition to protecting your house from heat, they can save you a bundle on energy costs. Install them on the outside of your home on its south-facing side.

The addition of a a ceiling fan to your home is a great way to get your home's temperature down. Ceiling fans are not expensive and they come in a variety of different styles so you can find something that you like. Most homeowner's have ceiling fans installed in the living room and bedrooms.

Many people also use tabletop fans to help keep their home cool. If you do decide to go with fans, you can use them best by placing one fan at one end of your house and point it so that air is coming into the house, then place another fan at the other end of your house and face it so that it will blow the air out. This will create a wind tunnel that is able to cool down your house quickly. This is a good option to use at night when temperatures are more modest.

If your attic traps a lot of warm air, you might want to invest in a whole-house fan. These fans are mounted on your attic's ceiling and draw the outside air, which may be cooler, indoors and through your attic and roof. The warm air from your attic and other areas of your home exits via roof vents. Whole-house fans cost from $150 to $400 and are an intelligent investment.

Locate your next home in Southern California: Muirlands Real Estate with Casitas and Gated Murrieta PropertiesRealtors: Maximize your potential for sales and internet exposure with our real estate website technology