Recent soaring temperatures suggest this summer could be another scorcher. Temperatures for 2009 are expected to be above the 1971-2000 average and the Met Office currently believes we are "odds on for a barbecue summer".

Here is some advice to help you stay cool without spending too much money or using an excessive amount of electricity, followed by tips to help you buy the right air conditioner.

Money for cooling
Our best tip to make the best of the summer ahead: now is a great time to compare prices and switch energy supplier.Because of long days and warm weather, your energy consumption is now at its lowest point in the year, so chances are that monthly direct debit payers are in credit with their suppliers, by as much as £300.

By switching supplier, your current provider would have to refund you this credit. Adding the savings from switching, which are typically 15% of your energy bills, and you can make a very tidy sum and finally afford that air conditioner.

Minimise sources of heat
Standard or halogen light bulbs, big LCD or Plasma TV sets, refrigerators, washers, dryers, personal computers, ovens, hot water pipes and boilers are significant sources of heat and will exacerbate the effect of a heat wave.Make sure you turn off what you don't use, use insulation where you can and invest in more efficient lighting for your home. Visit the Energy Savings Trust for help and information on making your home more energy efficient.

Double glazing
Double-glazed windows are great at keeping the heat in, but they also keep it out. Open your windows at night to circulate cooler night air and keep them shut during the day when the outside air is hotter. Install window locks if you are worried about security at night.

Open windows on the breezy and preferably shady bottom side of the house and open windows on the other side of the house at the top to create a cooling cross-current of air through your home.

Shades
If you've got a sunny side to your house, keep the curtains or blinds on that side closed during the day. Blocking direct sunlight from coming through the windows is the easiest way to keep your home cool.

Fans
Fans don't use much energy and when air is circulating it feels much cooler. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective as well.

Cooler gardening
Windbreaking hedges can divert the force and direction of the wind in the winter, while a shady tree by the west or east of your home can cut the air conditioning cost of your home in the summer.

Solar reflective films on your windows and conservatory
New heat reflecting films applied to your windows ensure that your windows reflect the outside heat, yet let the light in, so you get the best of both worlds without paying the earth.

Flat tops
If you've got a flat roof, paint it with a specially formulated reflective paint or just paint it white. The reflective effect will help to keep the rooms under the flat roof much cooler.And remember - when the weather gets hot, stay out of the sun during the most intense periods, drink lots of water and avoid excessive physical labour if possible.

Air conditioners
When you have young children, are looking after the elderly or even if it's just too hot to cope, an air conditioner is a powerful weapon to beat the heat.

The first rule of buying an air conditioning unit is to not wait until it gets hot.

You need to give yourself time to shop around because you don't want to get stuck with an overpriced and inadequate air conditioner from your local hardware store simply because everything else was sold out on the hottest day of the year.

The second rule is that even a good air conditioner will use quite a bit of electricity, so make sure you buy an efficient unit by checking it energy efficiency rating.

Here are some simple pointers to getting value for money:

Type
Mobile air conditioners come in two types: "integrated" and "split" units.Integrated units work by housing the compressor unit (the bit that pumps the heat out of the air) inside the main control unit.

This makes the unit more compact and easier to move from room to room. On the downside, integrated units can be irritatingly noisy and tend to have less power, but they do cost less, with a decent unit priced around the £300 mark.

Split air conditioners house the noisy bits in an external box, which you will have to find space for outside your window (they usually fit in the window box and come with fittings).

The outside unit is attached to the inside control unit by a thin pipe.

This has the advantage of keeping the noise down. However, if you want to move your air conditioner from room to room, you need to consider that half of it sits outside. Split mobile units are also a bit more expensive, typically starting at £400.

Size
Buy an air conditioner with a cooling capacity that matches your property. Measure the room you wish to cool and make sure that it corresponds with the stated capacity of the unit.An underpowered unit will have to run constantly without providing enough cooling, while an overly powerful machine will not remove enough moisture from the air and make the room feel clammy.

Noise
Air conditioners can be noisy. If you cannot demo a unit, ask for its noise performance in decibels: this is particularly important if you are buying an integrated unit. Good performance is considered to be between 36 and 40 decibels. Noise is an important consideration if you wish to place the device in a bedroom.

Maintenance
All filters, air intakes, grilles and radiators need to be kept unblocked and clean at all times to maintain peak performance. Check that your unit allows easy access to all maintainable parts.

Usage
Most new units have a timer facility. Before you leave your home, set the timer to start the machine 30 minutes before your return.

This way, you'll enter into a nicely cooled home without wasting energy by letting the device run in your absence. Set the temperature to around 24 celsius for a comfortable environment.

Use a fan
Circulate the cold air with an extra standard fan to ensure efficient temperature distribution.

Make sure that you buy the most efficient unit
In the longer term an inefficient cheaper unit could cost you more than the slightly more expensive air conditioner that uses less energy or makes less noise.

And don't forget
You can help pay for an air conditioner by switching energy supplier and getting some money back if you have been overpaying.