Summer is here, and it's only going to get hotter. But you don't have to suffer through the heat. With just a few home energy saving tips, you can keep the heat outside where it belongs, and preserve your own oasis of comfort. And you can do it without breaking the bank, too.

Weatherproofing your doors

One of the best ways to keep the heat away is to reinforce your home against summer's assault. In other words, weatherproof.

• Weatherstripping is your first line of defense

  Vinyl or rubber weatherstripping on door jambs is an inexpensive way to make your home more impervious to outside heat and retain the inside cool your air conditioner has created. Usually self-adhesive and easily applied, weatherstripping creates a barrier that seals your doors when they're closed. …Weatherstripping also works great on the tops and sides of doors.

• Door sweeps protect against floor-level drafts

  If your doors are leaking air along the bottom, consider adding a door sweep. This rubber or bristled strip along the bottom creates a seal to keep weather away when the door is closed, yet won't hinder opening and closing.

• Draft guards block the big air leaks

  If your air leakage is too great for a sweep to block, consider using a moveable draft guard. For another solution, consider slicing a piece of pipe insulation lengthwise and wrapping it around the bottom of your door.

Weatherproofing your windows

If you have older windows in your home, you may have developed cracks around the area where the window and walls meet. Consider adding spray foam or caulking to block hot air from coming in, and cold air from leaking out. You might also consider applying clear insulating film to your windows. While it's more popular in wintertime, it also does a fine job of keeping your home comfortable in summer. The only downside is, you can't easily open your windows. But in sweltering summer heat, you really wouldn't want to anyway, would you?

Get a home energy audit

There is a lot you can do to keep your home energy efficient, but sometimes professional help can make a huge difference. Consider requesting a home energy audit from your local utility company to find some unexpected ways to save energy and keep cool. During a home energy audit, an inspector will come to your home and check many of the most common areas where energy is lost, and give you advice on how to stop it from happening. Following the advice of your home energy audit professional can often result in savings of 5-30% on energy costs*.

Get a system check-up

An air-conditioning system check-up can go a long way towards keeping you comfortable and energy efficient. Find your local Lennox Dealer to schedule a summer tuneup that includes indoor and outdoor coil cleaning, an air filtration check, a refrigerant check and a few more things that help your air conditioner not work as hard.

Consider a new air-conditioning system.

No matter how much you insulate, weatherproof and prepare, it won't make much difference if your air conditioner is over 15 years old. Outdated systems can be inefficient, costing you more money each month on your electric bill. If this is the year you decide to take the leap and install a new air-conditioning system, you may be surprised to see just how much money newer technology can save you, even on the hottest days of the year.