Air conditioning

[kork13]

Just curious what everyone's thoughts were.... I share an apartment with a couple friends to minimize living costs between us. However, when the power bill came it kinda surprised me.... $150 over a 20-day period (we just moved in last month) for our 1400 sq-ft place. Not to say that I really knew what to expect, but I guess I expected a bit less.... anyway, my question...

Which way is better in terms of using less power? Turning off the AC while we're gone at work (~7am-5pm), or leaving it on during the day? To turn it off during the day would seem to make more sense (cents? ), because it doesn't keep the house cool while nobody's in the house to enjoy it. On the other hand, upon returning, the apt is at 80+ degrees and humid, so the AC needs to work harder/longer than normal to cool it back down to the 75/76-ish that I keep it at. We're in the FL panhandle (hot/humid all the time), so the temp we keep it at is about the warmest that we can comfortably accept.

Besides the AC thing, any other tips on how to cut down on power usage with minimal impacts on "way of life"? If possible, I'd like to try to decrease our power usage without making a big deal of it with my roommates. We can easily afford whatever the bill comes to, it's just a matter of paying more than we necessarily need to. Any advice would be appreciated... thanks!

[Mamaw]

Programmable thermometer will allow you to have high temp while your all are gone and can cool just before your come home. CF light bulbs not only save energy last longer. Microwave cooking and get a crock pot you dinner could be ready when you get home.

[jeffmem]

If you are gone form the house for that long, turn it off. I did a test of my own system, if I am not home I turn it off, however if I am in and out and only gone for an hour or so, I leave it on. I have pets and I leave it on for them because inside gets too hot for them, but that's just me, my bill came to like $120 a month, but I live outside the US, my power is only like 9 cents a kilowatt. So even though I left my A/C on all day, it wasn't that much. I also leave the temperature set around 80 degrees and leave the fan on low. I also use a ceiling fan, 24hours a day.

[kork13]

Since this thread got bumped, I'll ask a related question...

It's suddenly started getting cold (I thought I was done with that... darn...), so now we're starting to use the heater (electric). What do most of you keep your thermostats set at during colder months? Right now our apt is sitting at about 71, but I'm dreading getting out of bed for how cold it is, so I think that may be too low...

[Ima saver]

Well, my house is about 58 right now and I have not turned the heat on yet. I usually keep it about 62-63 and dress warmly all day.
One good way to save on your electric bill is to turn off your hot water heater. Only turn it on about 20 minutes before taking a shower and running the dish washer. My electric bill was $108 last month and I live in a 3200 square foot house.

[momof1in150]

Our house is set to 62 during the day and 68 when we are home and 64 at night. I have two kids with Asthma and it is just better for them not to be cold. Our heat has been on for about a week and will be on through April.

We have instant hot water and is heated with oil through our furnace so it has no impact on our electric bill.

[MonkeyMama]

68 - 70 during the day

No heat at night (generally settles no lower than 60 - and 60 is when it is literally freezing outside - so rarely gets that cold in our house).

ETA: We pay $400 per YEAR for heat and hot water (2600 sf) so I ain't sweating it. The mild climate certainly helps, and moreso, the extremely energy efficient house. I know a lot of people around here who pay $400/month, in the winter.

[PrincessPerky]

no heat on yet... was 59 when I got up, but it is now in the 60s

When I turn it on, I will pay for 62 degrees.

I discovered one day that I was freezing soon as I got out of bed at 73 degrees... seemed to me there was no sense in paying for the extra ten degrees if I was going to be cold regardless. once I get up and drink some tea, and start to move around I warm up just fine (as do the kids, minus the tea)

Plus I just read a wonderful article that pointed out keeping our body at a constant temperature requires calories, if the house is always close to comfortable no sweater needed I wouldn't be burning quite so many calories so I call it my weight management strategy.....

[MaskedMarvel]

We try not tu put the heat on before it's really cold. We live in a 1450 sqare foots and we pay around $200 in winter. We do live in Canada :P

I would say that some families with the same house size pays like $350-$400.

So in the end if you can tollarate you'll save

[CrazShop]

leaving it running while you are gone doesn't make sense to me. yes it will take a little while to get the temp lower again but hey that will save you money in your pocket. its like leaving the lights on all day so when you get home you don't have to turn on the lights? make that adjustment and save.