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MARQUETTE -- With this year's warm summer, U.P. residents are using something they usually don't:  air conditioning.

"It seems to be not as much a luxury anymore as it is a necessity," said Swick Plumbing unit installer, Rick Gilles.

Unfortunately, cooling your home can melt your wallet, but you can lower temperatures without raising your energy bills. 

Step one:  pick the right unit.  There are three varieties:  window, inverter, and central.

"We're trying to find for the homeowner the best option for them, up-front cost, and energy efficiency in the long run," said Gilles.

Gilles says central air may cost more up front, but it's more efficient in the long run.  A cheaper option for a smaller space is an inverter unit.

"They're called mini-split systems," Gilles said.  "There's a lot less labor involved in them.  It's a zone-type system so you're getting air conditioning in places that you just want it in.  It modulates up and down based on your demand for the day."

Cheaper window units may only set you back $100, but they'll cost you more later.

"Window air conditioners are more or less a band-aid on a problem," Gilles said.  "They're noisy and inefficient."

Experts say the amount you save isn't just based off the type of AC system you use.  By updating your blower motor on your furnace, experts say you could save 70 percent on energy bills.  You can also save by making your home more energy efficient.

"Close the windows and drapes on the east and west sides," said Kerry Noble, owner of H.E.S., Home Evaluation Services.  "There's a solar heat gain on the east and west sides.  The other thing is to turn off all light bulbs and lamps.  Light bulbs and lamps produce electricity, so if you leave those things on, you're paying twice for your cooling."

A good rule of thumb:  pay more now, save more later.