Whirlpool has come out with these new air conditioners that are lighter than older models, and more energy efficient. This can make a big difference in electric bills, since the two appliances that eat up electricity are air conditioners and washer/dryers.
If you don't want to suffer from the heat, two things worth investing in:
1) an energy efficient a/c
2) a gas powered generator.
In the event of a blackout, the a/c isn't much helpwith no power. And they're not too expensive, maybe five hundred bucks.
That might seem like a lot, but is it worth living in miserable heat just to save a few pennies?
Another thing to check is windows. Old windows not only lose heat in the winter, but also lose coolness in the summer. Most contractors install new windows for the whole house, but you can get one window for just an upstairs room for a hundred bucks. Makes sense since heat rises.