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July 29, 2009 1:52 PM

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Yeah... Won't be trying this in here in Austin, Texas.

28 replies

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GadgetsAlwaysFit

July 29, 2009 10:22 PM

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@bennilynn: Ditto for S.C. We had a cold front 2 weeks ago. The high was 83 degrees! It was like a party around here. We set a new record low of 66 degrees one night. Now we are back to 100% humidity - and it isn't raining. Gotta love that free steam bath every time you walk outside.

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jimb213

July 29, 2009 9:51 PM

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@bennilynn:
cool... lots of us Austinites here (okay, I technically live in Cedar Park). I'm dreading my next electric bill. I have a programmable thermostat set for 80 during the day, but that's still gotta be running a lot to keep the house 25 degrees cooler than the outside temperature...

I do love from about October/November to March/April when I can keep the windows open whenever I'm home...

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EtherealFlame

July 29, 2009 8:45 PM

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@bennilynn: Hello fellow Texans. I won't be participating in this in Copperas Cove either.

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Xay

July 29, 2009 5:50 PM

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@bennilynn: Spending time with elderly relatives in South GA with no AC is enough suffering for me. No way I would go without in Tallahassee.

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mookiemookie

July 29, 2009 4:37 PM

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@bennilynn: Houston TX here. I was without power for 10 days in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike so I was a participant in the \"no A/C\" experiment against my will. I will not be repeating that if I can help it.

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July 29, 2009 5:38 PM

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lol same here, never again! Man that sucked :/

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July 29, 2009 4:34 PM

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@bennilynn: Another Austinite here. We keep our thermostat up around 80-85 degrees. Saves a lot of money, and since we're now used to it, we find it to be pretty cool. During the nights, we do turn on the ceiling fan to help circulate the air.

One thing that helps is our apartment complex has these screens on the windows which keep out the sun, but are also privacy screens. They're darker than regular screens.

During the winter, though, we've been able to make it without ever turning on the heat. This past winter we didn't use the heater once. The year before, we used it for about a week.

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Kat@Work

July 29, 2009 4:22 PM

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@bennilynn: Yeah, I'll gladly pay my $250 summer electric bill here in Houston - I would be a complete bitch and constantly miserable without A/C - especially in the middle of a DROUGHT. Thanks but no thanks Bostonian.

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July 29, 2009 4:16 PM

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@bennilynn: I live in Houston. I want to move to Aberdeen. Then I will be able to listen to the sound of my electric heater vacuuming the pounds sterling out of my wallet. :)

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kaceetheconsumer

July 29, 2009 4:03 PM

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@bennilynn: My thoughts exactly, although we moved to Austin last year from Las Vegas and we're still conditioned to that heat, so when our Austin neighbours are all whiny about the heat, we're actually doing pretty good. Melting from humidity by comparison of Vegas, but pretty good.

Frankly, I'm running the AC to make the upstairs less swampy-feeling as much as for heat! And because it's not truly very humid, just feeling like that to us, a dehumidifier won't help.

I grew up without AC in Toronto and my husband did the same in Sydney, so if we lived there we might consider it again...

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CardiffGiant

July 29, 2009 3:48 PM

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@bennilynn:
My mother in-law is just landing here in Austin, TX right now...she likes a cool house, so the themostat is going to have to stay around 75 deg...talk about shredding money!

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keepher

July 29, 2009 3:43 PM

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@bennilynn: \"Of course, this advice doesn't apply to anyone in the Sun Belt. Any savings in electric bills would be negated by funeral costs.\"

Statement of fact in S. TN too.

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July 29, 2009 3:41 PM

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@bennilynn: Phoenix AZ here, where its 110F outside and my front door is currently radiating 135F

:-)

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July 29, 2009 3:47 PM

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Sunrise, Fl checking in... My A/C adds about $150 to my bill just keeping it at 78 from 5pm to 8am on weekdays and all day on Sat and Sun. It has been miserable but going without A/C would be even worse!

Leaving the windows open doesn't do anything, just lets in more hot air.

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July 29, 2009 3:18 PM

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@bennilynn: What we SHOULD have here in Texas, at least in new construction, is more-tightly-zoned AC. There are products that have been popular outside the US for a long time that I will use when we get to design a house after we pay off my partner's med school loans. They have small outside units that can support 2-3 inside units (depending on the brand and model) Each inside unit is independent of the others and cools one space. So, you have the higher efficiency of a split system combined with the zone control of window units without filling your windows up with ugly window units. They do have a wart on the wall, I'm sure that will be a problem for the completely aesthetically-motivated, but they're not into efficiency anyway.

That way, while I work at home in the daytime, I could only cool my study to a comfortable level and let the rest of the house get a bit warmer. At night we could just cool our bedroom to a nice sleeping temperature, and could easily cool a guest room only when we actually had guests.

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docrice

July 29, 2009 5:21 PM

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@GearheadGeek: do you mean something like the Mitsubishi Mr. Slim? They're around, but you don't see many of them - most that I've seen are add-ons to existing houses built without central air (i.e. older homes).

That said, I run a window unit in the BR of my ranch house all day and turn off the central when it's <95. It circulates the air and draws out the humidity, so the house stays cool enough for the dog during the day and it's comfortable for me when I get home. If I didn't have a dog, I'd just use the programmable thermostat that seems like a waste of money now.

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July 29, 2009 6:02 PM

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@docrice: That's the type of thing, yes. You're right that you don't see many of them, because it's more fashionable to have a discreet AC register on the wall or ceiling than to have the fancoil inside unit of the Mr. Slim-type system, and because the regular central air systems are what most people are accustomed to.

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kaceetheconsumer

July 29, 2009 4:05 PM

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@GearheadGeek: I totally, totally want zoned AC for this here South Austin house. Upstairs is swampy downstairs is a fridge. It's stupid. But we've looked into it and we'd need tons of duct work, so at the moment it's more than we can afford. Definitely in the long-term plans, though, along with solar panels, and I guess more attic insulation will be needed if we sell what with that new law and all...

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July 29, 2009 4:53 PM

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@kaceetheconsumer: The system I was talking about doesn't use ducts. You need to pipe refrigerant from the outside unit to the space to be cooled, and there's a fan-coil unit in the interior space. So, it's not without some plumbing, but the refrigerant lines don't require the kind of space that a duct would.

One cost-effective solution for your 2-story house might be to add this kind of split-system wall-unit AC just to the upstairs part of the house. That would let you focus the extra cooling on the upstairs and balance the temperature better. There's really no excuse for building a 2-story house in Texas that has just one zone of AC... either build it old-school for survivability without AC, or zone it upstairs and down. Of course, the builders rarely do that because it would make the houses more expensive, and all they are really selling is $/sq. ft.

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JeffIowa

July 29, 2009 4:39 PM

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@kaceetheconsumer: Talk to a contractor about high velocity AC. It uses small (4\" diameter) ducts at a high velocity, so there's less remodeling to do. I think I saw it on \"This Old House\" a few years ago.

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kaceetheconsumer

July 29, 2009 4:44 PM

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@JeffIowa: Awesome, thanks for the info!

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July 29, 2009 4:59 PM

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@kaceetheconsumer: re: attic insulation and solar... consider for your first solar add-on a solar-powered attic ventilator. If you have a mostly south- or southwest-facing plane of roof, this would help extract hot air from the attic without costing you a penny for electricity, and runs any time the sun hits it. I have no idea how well they survive hail storms, however, which is one of my biggest concerns about solar installations here in Texas.

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JulesNoctambule

July 29, 2009 3:14 PM

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@bennilynn: North Carolinian and asthmatic -- like hell will I go without AC.

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July 29, 2009 2:55 PM

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I'm another Consumerist addict from Austin. I'm near the practically drained Lake Travis. Home of the Sometimes Island.

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July 29, 2009 2:45 PM

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@bennilynn: Hell no in St. Louis.

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YOXIM

July 29, 2009 2:55 PM

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@lawnmowerdeth: Greetings from Orlando. Try that shit here, and if the heat doesn't kill you, the humidity will. :)

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July 30, 2009 11:15 AM

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From Tampa here, know the feeling.

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aidenn

July 29, 2009 3:45 PM

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@YOXIM: Yeah, I grew up in SoCal and I can do 110 degree heat without A/C all the time, but the moment I moved to Orlando, I became a whiny girl about the humidity!

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The Porkchop Express

July 29, 2009 4:04 PM

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@aidenn: It's the lack of wind. of course there will be plenty of wind when the temp is already down around 60!!

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Science is for girls!

July 29, 2009 2:43 PM

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@bennilynn: Not in Atlanta GA either.

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Doug81

July 29, 2009 3:13 PM

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@Science is for girls!: Also not in Vidalia Ga.

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Willow01

July 29, 2009 2:33 PM

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@bennilynn: Sorry I won't be trying this in Phoenix AZ.

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Necoras

July 29, 2009 2:30 PM

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@bennilynn: Dallas here. We had a week straight where the highs didn't go under 100, and usually barely hit the 70s at night. Much nicer now with the rain, but we still need the AC.

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July 29, 2009 2:11 PM

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@bennilynn: try living in mcallen tx. its the armpit/taint of texas. very unpleasent sweaty and stinky!!

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July 29, 2009 2:03 PM

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@bennilynn: Gah! Thank you! I would love to see her try that here for a week.

Also, hi from a fellow Austinite!

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July 29, 2009 2:11 PM

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@Baxterjones: I third that -- also, hello from Austin!

","

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Tiber

July 29, 2009 1:54 PM

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Got a condo which doesn't seem to have AC, but fortunately I'm in Michigan and the weather has been very cooperative.

12 replies

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July 30, 2009 2:47 PM

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@Tiber: Tiber, I agree. The weather in Michigan this summer has been very mild and cool and I have turned on my AC only once and that was in April. If you don't have an AC installed Tiber, go to Costco and check out the portable AC units. We used similar units in Iraq and they worked great. You'll also notice that they have a hose that is supposed dispose of the moisture to the outside. Some portable units don't require a hose but have an internal filtration system. The units we used in Iraq had hoses but we never used them and we never noticed anything different. We felt there was no need and I don't think it made any difference and the air was nice and cool and it felt great in our offices. If I didn't have AC for the house, I would buy one of these portable units.

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July 29, 2009 2:57 PM

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@Tiber: It has been a good summer up here...I have a corner apartment, so if we keep the windows open and have the window fans running, it stays really nice and cool inside. Knock on wood.

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squinko

July 29, 2009 2:19 PM

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@Tiber: I wouldn't mind the cooler temps so much if it stopped raining every few days.

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mizike

July 29, 2009 2:07 PM

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@Tiber: I was thinking the same thing; it's the coolest summer I can remember (I'm in Ottawa) but I actually find it really nice. It's warm enough that you can wear shorts and a tshirt, but not so hot that I end up baking in my unairconditioned apartment. If it would only stop raining every other day so I could get in a camping trip I'd be, well, a happy camper.

By the way, it drives me crazy when people liken a summer with no A/C to a winter with no heat. No, in fact they're not the same thing at all. One will make you uncomfortable, the other will cause death. Before anyone says \"well if you lived in Texas you'd be singing a different tune\", no I wouldn't. Billions of people live in hotter climates than Texas and get by just fine with no A/C (read: India, southeast Asia, most of Africa, parts of Central and South America).

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July 29, 2009 6:26 PM

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Billions of people live in hotter climates than Texas and get by just fine with no A/C (read: India, southeast Asia, most of Africa, parts of Central and South America).

A whole lot of people live with extremely cold conditions too and they don't have heat. Just pointing out how silly your argument is. Heat can be just as deadly as cold.

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mizike

July 29, 2009 7:46 PM

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@trujunglist: Where do people live in extremely cold conditions with no heat? I can't think of anywhere on earth where the temperature routinely drops below zero celsius (which doesn't even qualify as extremely cold, but whatever) yet people take no steps to heat their homes and presumably just wear gigantic sweaters for months on end.

For the average person A/C is a luxury. If it gets extremely hot you'll probably be ok without A/C but if it gets extremely cold you probably won't be ok without some source of heat. This is why it annoys me when people equate the two.

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Kimaroo - 100% Pure Natural Kitteh

July 30, 2009 3:16 AM

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@mizike: Eskimos?

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July 29, 2009 8:44 PM

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@mizike: Your argument makes no sense.

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July 29, 2009 4:53 PM

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@mizike:
I've lived in Louisiana & now in TX & my personal philosophy has always been that I can put on enough clothes & wrap up in enough blankets to keep warm in winter w/no heat but I can't take off enough (naked being the max & all) to stay cool in summer w/no A/C.

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July 30, 2009 3:41 AM

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@tekiebelu: Visit the upper midwest in January my friend. Negative 10's as the high with wind chills that make it feel 40 below. That's the kind of bone-chilling cold that no amount of layering can shake.

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July 29, 2009 4:52 PM

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@mizike: Though it can actually be a health hazard, as witness the thousands of deaths in the Chicago and Paris heat waves. People's lifestyles and buildings are geared toward the typical weather in their region and how it's dealt with there. Midwesterners also sail safely through cold that would kill the people in the regions you mention.

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Trai_Dep

July 29, 2009 3:40 PM

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@mizike: So you're saying that those from India, SE Asia are made from firmer stuff than Texans?
*ducks*

PS: Most of the times I go back to SE Asia, 1-2 days in, I have a mini-heat stroke (woozy, not sick) then bounce back. Then once recalibrated, ceiling fans do remarkably well (staying immobile during the noon break as the locals do helps). So, yeah, if you adapt (physically and behaviorally, you can do fine without AirCon).

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July 29, 2009 3:23 PM

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@mizike: Those billions of people live in structures designed for their climate. Texans and many other sunbelt dwellers often live in houses designed for fashion rather than reality, with poorly-placed windows that don't open very much. LOTS of new construction down here has stupid windows where only a third or less of the window is actually movable, making it damned hard to get good cross-ventilation. In addition, HOAs require dark shingles and lots of people put houses in direct sun with dark brick. It's idiotic to do, but there's no shortage of idiots.

Let me tell you, a dark-brick house with a dark-shingle roof unprotected from the sun in Texas is not livable without AC. No one built houses like that in Texas before AC, and with good reason.

With the current built environment, if you magically made AC units stop working, I'd bet you a couple of mortgage payments that there's be people in Texas who wouldn't survive the summer.

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Kimaroo - 100% Pure Natural Kitteh

July 29, 2009 3:16 PM

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@mizike: Then why is my Texan news filled with stories of people dying of heat-stroke because they didn't have AC in their house? This is especially a problem for children and the elderly.

We have humidity here that makes it feel much much hotter than places that are in the desert. In the desert sweat cools you off, here.. sweat does NOTHING.

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Trai_Dep

July 29, 2009 3:43 PM

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@Kimaroo - 20% More Kitty Added!: Probably because they're living lifestyles and inhabit in places that don't account for the heat and humidity (see my above comment about acclimating).

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July 29, 2009 3:10 PM

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@mizike: good point. That's also the reason why a home must have a working furnace for it to be legally sold, but a/c is optional.

I live in a townhouse in Columbia, MD, and I use cental air, with a portable a/c unit I. The upstairs bedroom. This keeps me from having to freeze the entire house, just so the upstairs is comfortable

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doctor_cos wants you to remain calm

July 29, 2009 2:24 PM

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...I'd be, well, a happy camper.

I like what you did there.

Come on down to SW Fla, with 82 degrees and 90% humidity at 6 in the fricking AM, and we'll talk.

As for \"billions of people\" . . . You don't miss what you never had.

","

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MissPeacock

July 29, 2009 1:55 PM

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This is not an option in Birmingham, Alabama. No way, no how.

13 replies

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July 29, 2009 8:53 PM

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@MissPeacock: Can't be done in Montgomery, either.

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tbax929

July 29, 2009 5:38 PM

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I'm in Tucson, and I know lots of folks who don't have central air. They all use swamp coolers, which seem to work fine in older homes but don't do crap in the new houses that are being built. I keep my air at 85 when I'm at work and 80 when I'm home, and my electric bill never approaches $100.

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July 29, 2009 3:15 PM

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@MissPeacock: It might be an option, just not as viable as in Mass. Because, not only is it hotter in the south but electric rates tend to be much lower in the south than on the east or west coasts, so you don't save nearly the moolah.

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July 29, 2009 2:57 PM

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@MissPeacock: I love my AC and I won't give it up even in (relatively) cool Washington, DC. But that said, I'm surprised by all the people who say it's just \"not an option\" in the South. People lived in Alabama, Texas, Arizona, etc. for years without air conditioning, and many still do. We won't even go into how many people live in less developed, but still extremely hot, countries.

AC is a convenience, and a damn fine one. But just because you (and I) don't want to give it up doesn't mean it's impossible.

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July 29, 2009 7:24 PM

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@ratnerstar: Great point. I've still got living grandparents who can remember when their houses first got electricity, much less central heating and cooling. Rural folk are tough like that...lol

I too would rather not go without A/C, but with this summer reminding me of past summers, I know I can still function pretty fairly without it. Of course, next time I'll probably try it with a laptop instead of a power-sapping, heat generating desktop.

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Xay

July 29, 2009 5:54 PM

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@ratnerstar: I have spent many summers without AC. My grandmother's home didn't have it (Fayetteville, NC) and there I learned about strategic placement of fans. I spent two (surprisingly hot as hell) Julys in Minnesota without AC.

But now that I am an adult and I have a choice, I decided that the money I spend on AC is absolutely worth it. Also, check out historical heat related death data - AC has its benefits.

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July 29, 2009 3:32 PM

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@ratnerstar: Having grown up in India in a city with the most efficient heat sink effect I have ever seen, and where temperatures hit 45C every summer, without an AC for the most part, I can do without an AC if I had to. But it is not necessarily a wise thing to do.

For one, it is a terrible experience. For people not used to taking high heat for extended periods of time, or extra spicy food (read white folks), such an exposure can be stroke inducing. (Not kidding, a lot of people in India keel over because of heat strokes).

Just because you can survive something does not mean it has to be a lifestyle. I do not know about others, but my electricity bills stay around 50 bucks. Hardly anything worth taking that much trouble over. Though admittedly, I am at work most of the day and the home AC only runs in the evenings and weekends. I turn it off before going to sleep. And I keep it in the upper 70s.

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nybiker

July 29, 2009 5:04 PM

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@MostlyHarmless: Are you renting a small apartment here in the Big Apple or are you somewhere where the electric rates are very, very low? Between the account fee and then the usage, delivery, taxes, and surcharges, my house's most recent monthly bill (for 550 kWh) came to $143.83. And I believe that Con Ed will be doing their normal summer jackup of rates with the next bill, so even if I continue my no A/C usage, my bill will still be going up. And being unemployed right now (and for the last 7 months) makes it unlikely I'll be turning on the wall units anytime soon. And even when I was working, it had to get real bad for me to crank those puppies on. So for now, it's my ceiling fan in the home office or upgright fans elsewhere in the house.

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July 29, 2009 3:28 PM

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@ratnerstar: Most houses have not been built to respect their local climate for the last 50 years. Look at old Southern houses... big deep porches to shade the windows and walls, high ceilings to allow the warmer air to stratify well away from where Scarlett sprawls on her fainting couch, tall double-hung windows to let the hot air escape up high and draw in somewhat-less-sultry air down low, and houses with low thermal mass painted light colors to avoid heating the structure of the house itself. Such houses also commonly had \"sleeping porches\" to be tolerable in the summer.

Now look around at the disposable crap that's been built recently... you'll see houses that look like they belong in New England built in sweltering sunny climes, wholly dependent on their HVAC to make them tolerable inside.

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JulesNoctambule

July 29, 2009 3:16 PM

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@ratnerstar: Just because people go without doesn't mean they aren't harmed by extreme heat.

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Trai_Dep

July 29, 2009 3:53 PM

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@JulesNoctambule: As several have pointed out, if this was the case, Asia and Africa would have negative growth rates.
Adapting your behavior and environment in ways that Gearhead mentions (I'd add ceiling fans too. And Mint Juleps!) make a huge difference.
Of course these conflict with the New England style McMansions or cubby hole apartment complexes that have sprouted lately, but that's not to say his point isn't valid.
If 5' 80-year-old ladies in Vietnam can handle it with barely a shrug, surely so can burly Southern Americans?

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July 29, 2009 4:24 PM

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@Trai_Dep: The 80-year-old ladies are acclimated to it (there's a reason we use that word, right). (And I seriously doubt they sit around under ceiling fans sipping mint juleps.) Humans used to manage to live to old age without modern medicine or hygiene, also. Just not too many of them, you know.

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Trai_Dep

July 29, 2009 5:15 PM

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@speedwell, avatar of snark: Good points.
I guess a halfway point (more energy conscious design, passive cooling systems, some behavior modification, efficient A/C when these fail) is the optimal approach.
And Mint Juleps, of course. Lots of Mint Juleps.

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pecan 3.14159265

July 29, 2009 3:11 PM

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@ratnerstar: But it was also dangerous to be in such heat, all the time. And modern construction is very different from how it used to be. Try having no air conditioning when it's 90 degrees outside and you have fancy floor to ceiling windows. Either you pay for air flow or you pay to turn on the lamps cause you have your curtains drawn.

It's merely \"not an option\" because the lack of such a thing is perceived to be not only a deal breaker because we like it so much, but it's also detrimental to our health.

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Brunette Bookworm

July 29, 2009 3:10 PM

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@ratnerstar: That's what I thought, too. People lived in those states for years without air conditioning and others still survive without it. Is it more comfortable with it? Sure, but most of the time it's not necessary to live. Houses today aren't built to be efficient in cooling without air conditioning.

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July 29, 2009 2:42 PM

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I was thinking the same thing in Prattville, AL...

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AreYouConfusedYet?HowAboutNow?

July 29, 2009 2:46 PM

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@MissPeacock, nightshade74: I guess you need it. You can't have some wine to cool you down without crossing the border.

","

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July 29, 2009 1:56 PM

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You can also go without heat in the winter, without salt on your food, and walk everywhere you go.

Good advice...just not for everyone.

3 replies

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Apeweek

July 29, 2009 3:40 PM

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I can tell you what works here in Michigan - or anyplace where the nights are cooler.

You need a house with good insulation, and a whole-house fan in the attic. Keep the house closed up in the daytime, and run the fan all night.

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Raanne

July 29, 2009 4:20 PM

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@Apeweek: Thats how i grew up in Michigan - we never had AC - my parents just installed it in their house last year. We opened all the windows on the 2nd floor at night (and 1st floor if they were not accessible from outside), ran the attic fan all night, and in the morning we closed our windows, and shut our thermal shades. It was always cooler in the house than outside, and if it was a really hot day, we could go play in the basement. I just moved to Cleveland, and the house we are renting does not have AC, but every single room has a ceiling fan. But I am counting my blessings that it has been such a cold summer so far, as i'm 7 months pregnant right now!

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LJKelley

July 29, 2009 3:31 PM

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@backbroken: I actually know someone who did (don't know if they still do) go without heating in the winter due to finances. And in upstate NY of all places...

I'm sorry $100 a month in summer and winter is fair to keep me comfortable.

","

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Saboth

July 29, 2009 1:58 PM

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Lol might work up north in Boston, but not going to work in the 80% humidity of VA.

I might save $100 a month on AC, but I'd spend 2x more washing sheets every night because they are soaked in sweat, and I'd probably get 2 hours of sleep per night, so I might get fired at work.

7 replies

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Hoss

July 29, 2009 2:51 PM

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@Saboth: It's just as hot and humid in Boston this week as it is in Virginia. No question about that. But we have less of these days than you do.

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pecan 3.14159265

July 29, 2009 3:12 PM

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@Hoss: Yep. Even though this entire week it's supposed to be storming, we've had periods of blazing hot sun. The humidity is at around 90% and even when it's gloomy, it's still about 88 degrees.

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FoxCMK

July 29, 2009 2:34 PM

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@Saboth: Here in Hampton Roads going without A/C is certifiably insane. Leaving the windows open with this humidity means death by drowning.

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bravo369

July 29, 2009 2:19 PM

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@Saboth: This doesn't even work in NJ either. We don't have central air and i really do not enjoy breaking a sweat while just watching tv. meanwhile my wife loves 'summer weather' in the house and hates 'Chilly' air conditioning. Money aside, why anyone would rather sit in a hot apt with a fan going rather than a nice comfortable 75 degree AC room is beyond me

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Real Cheese Flavor

July 29, 2009 2:16 PM

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@Saboth: Same here in Tennessee.. I just figure any money I spend running the AC is made up for in the \"winter\" by generally not needing to turn on the heat until sometime in December or January.

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July 29, 2009 2:13 PM

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@Saboth: Don't kid yourself, we have miserable humidity in Boston and surrounding regions.

It's not Virginia, but it sure isn't Aspen either.

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July 29, 2009 2:33 PM

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@veg-o-matic: I'm sure it gets hot in Boston, but it's hard to take this seriously from several hundred miles south of there.

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chiieddy

July 29, 2009 2:50 PM

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@Shadowman615: It's just Boston has a much shorter hot & humid season than down south. For 3 - 4 weeks a year, we can sweat it out. Central air is actually rare up here. Most people have window units. I keep mine off unless I'm actively using the room (sleeping/cooking)

","

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thezone

July 29, 2009 1:58 PM

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Hmmm, my physical comfort is worth the cost. But for some people I can understand why they would do this. I think a good thermostat that can be programmed could possibly be the happy medium. Also, if you can't afford to cool your entire home maybe a well placed unit in the bedroom for hot summer nights could do the trick.

3 replies

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henneko

July 29, 2009 3:43 PM

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@thezone: I have a programmable thermostat which I use to let the house heat up when I'm not there, but what it lacks, and I really want to see, is something like a snooze button where I can leave the thermostat set to 79 or 80, and then when it gets muggy (or I come in from outside) I can hit a button and have the AC run for 15 minutes.

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thezone

July 29, 2009 4:16 PM

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@henneko: The thermostat in my apartment has a feature like that. There is an override button that you can set to turn on the AC or heat to a predetermined temperature. That way if you are home when your house would normally be warmer or cooler you can hit one button to make the user more to your liking. Hit the button again and the house goes back to the schedule. I can get the make and model when I get home if you are interested.

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henneko

July 29, 2009 7:55 PM

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@thezone: Mine has an override, but I have to set it to a lower temperature (as opposed to just \"run\") and I have to go back and un-override it afterwards. Usually I forget that part. Last time, I left it at 75 for most of a month (at which point I saw the bill).

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thezone

July 29, 2009 9:43 PM

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@henneko: Ahhh. Ok. In that case mine is just like yours. Now I think I know what the option you want would look like. Sorry my thermostat is only as useful as the one you already own.

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Saboth

July 29, 2009 2:16 PM

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This is what I've done (although my wife laughs at me and calls me a cheapskate). Put a HE window unit in our bedroom (because I need it to be pretty cold to sleep). So I keep the bedroom around 70 at night, and the rest of the house at 79. I would go with around 80 for the rest of the house, but the humidity starts to build up too fast, and the trash starts to stink, mold grows in the bathroom, etc.

","

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weave

July 29, 2009 1:59 PM

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I purchased two high-efficiency window units for two rooms where I spend most of my time and then set the central A/C to 83 for the rest of the house. I only run the window A/C when in that particular room. It's saved me quite a lot.

1 replies

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July 29, 2009 2:33 PM

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@weave: Similar situation here; using two window units upstairs where the central AC doesn't reach too well. It has saved lot$ since we can leave the central AC off many days. Had the fan motor on the outside unit of the central AC go bad and the replacement motor cost $500. (confirmed by a second contractor). For that price, I could buy two more window units and just cool the rooms we are using at the time. Convinced that in my area (Wash. DC), window units are more cost effective than a central AC system.

","

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PinkBox

July 29, 2009 1:59 PM

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Even with my AC on 65, it still becomes a sweat zone here in my apartment... and I'm the type to get cold easily.

3 replies

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July 29, 2009 7:36 PM

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@PinkBox: Your landlord should have an AC repair man look at your unit and have someone inspect your apt.

I'm in Florida, 2 story condo, high 90s every day forever, I keep my AC at 77/78 when I'm home, and 80 when i'm at work. It's very comfortable.

There is no reason that an AC set at 65 ever results in a warm spot anywhere in your apartment.

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July 29, 2009 2:56 PM

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@PinkBox: Seems like your AC needs to be tuned-up/replaced.

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Doug81

July 29, 2009 3:15 PM

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@karmaghost: Or possibly a lack of insulation in the apartment.

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kc2idf

July 29, 2009 5:01 PM

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@Doug81: Also possible that the A/C is oversized. It needs to be small enough that it mitigates the humidity before it reaches its target temperature.

","

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wvFrugan

July 29, 2009 1:59 PM

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I live in a modest sized house & have cut ALL my utilities in half in the past 8 months. I spend under $100.00 month for electric, natural gas, water, sewage, and trash pick-up. Heck, I can add in my cell phone, internet, & TV and still be under $100.00. I do keep the garden level den air conditioned as a comfort oasis. It takes a bit of effort, but does pay off. Especially since I'm a meat locker kind of guy!

7 replies

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wvFrugan

July 29, 2009 9:47 PM

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Oh a suspicious crowd, so here are more details per month:
natural gas 6.84 (minimun fee, used just to cook now)
water 21.89 (minimun for 1,500 gallons, I used 800)
sewage 7.32 (minimum fee based on above water)
electric 61.62
trash 2.08 (called municipal service fee here)
TV x.xx antenna
internet x.xx WI-FI (2 neighbors that give access to their secure networks)
cell phone x.xx (actually I usually make money on my pre-paid cell, it is my only phone & I use about 300 minutes a month).
THATS 99.75 TOTAL A MONTH. I spend 80.00 total a month on food, cleaning supplies, & personal care items.
Just ask & I'll give you more specifics!

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wvFrugan

July 29, 2009 9:56 PM

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My utilities are lower in the winter with no AC, I use natural gas to heat only as a back up and rely on my Swedish Jotul wood stove to heat. I only fill my car will gas every other month (I drive less than 100 miles/month).

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jnrcorp

July 29, 2009 5:23 PM

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@wvFrugan: Can you please specify how you achieve this? Are you using a pre-paid cell phone, no A/C, dial-up internet, antenna TV, etc?

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Saboth

July 29, 2009 7:39 PM

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I almost posted the same thing and said \"BS\". Unless you take your own trash off, have dialup at $10 a month, watch local channels on airwaves, have a well or are single, and use prepaid minutes...I don't see how this is possible. I live frugally, and my bills added up come up to more like $250 a month. Just cable/internet/cell is like $160.

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FigNinja

July 29, 2009 5:18 PM

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I don't know where you live but my water, sewage and trash bills come to about half of that and I'm pretty stingy with water since we're in a drought. My water/sewage is usually less than $25 and it's all in the lowest tier rate since I conserve. My trash hauling is $27 and that's the minimum rate. I have the smallest trash can they offer. Even with a prepaid cell and promo pricing on basic level Internet and TV service, there's no way I could squeeze all that AND my electric and gas into the remaining $50.

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July 29, 2009 4:25 PM

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@wvFrugan: Documents or it didn't happen.

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July 29, 2009 2:18 PM

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@wvFrugan: How have you managed that? We've made some good changes to our bill amounts with a programmable thermostat, energy efficient light bulbs, disconnecting the cable and such, but down here in FL it's implausible to turn off the A/C entirely... and cell phones are nearly $100 on their own. I guess the next step is turning off the water heater when we're not using it. So what have you done??

","

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July 29, 2009 1:59 PM

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Not really convinced we need to go this far. How about first we talk some sense into the people who leave their home AC on ALL DAY while they're gone to work?

First off, unless you have a really, really efficient AC unit, this is an enormous waste environmentally. Second, I can't imagine what these people are paying for electric every month (my bill would rise into the triple digits if I did this).

The AC goes off before I leave my apt in the morning. If that means it takes a little while to cool the place off when I get home ... oh well.

8 replies

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July 29, 2009 5:05 PM

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@Princess Leela: And if you have a really efficient A/C, it'll cool your house off quick enough when you get home anyway. (It's actually technically \"on\" at my house but the set point's so high that it wouldn't reach it in a single day's heating time.)

I was hyperthyroid, which makes you extremely heat sensitive, for several years--coinciding with lethal heat in Chicago, unfortunately, during which time I had no A/C. And now I really can't acclimatize to it any more, certainly not sufficiently to meet my work demands in heat. I'll set the house up all kinds of ways to minimize the need and I keep considering new possibilities to limit it further, but accepting higher temps just isn't going to work for me, and I'm only going to get more heat sensitive as I age. I just have to factor that in as a maintenance cost.

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gparlett

July 29, 2009 2:34 PM

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@Princess Leela: I have a programmable thermostat and the temp goes up to 78 while I'm at work. I can't really tell how much I'm saving in electric, I'd have to not use my programmable thermostat for a summer to get a baseline and then see how much I could save the next summer, that said I'm sure the thermostat will more than pay for it's $40 price tag over the life of the unit.

And FYI I do have a cat, but when she stops sleeping directly in the sun I'll worry more about her cooling needs.

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bohemian

July 29, 2009 2:12 PM

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@Princess Leela: When it is really hot we can't turn it off because the critters would die. But setting it at 75 rather than 70 saves a ton and it is usually still fine in here.

The hubster would run it 24-7 even when it is 60 degrees outside if I let him. Then bitch about the $300 electric bill. So I just keep an eye on the outside temps and only turn on the AC if it is hitting 80 or higher and a high humidity.

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zegolf

July 29, 2009 2:05 PM

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@Princess Leela: I did this for a month under Maryland's awesome death-grip by BGE and Constellation energy, and it actually ended up costing me more than if I regulate it with a good programmable thermostat. Wasn't there something posted on Consumerist a few weeks back about the benefits of keeping a house moderately cool throughout the day versus off during the day and on at night?

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July 29, 2009 2:08 PM

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@zegolf: @MostlyHarmless: Yeah, I admit I'm really thinking of apartment window units, which I suppose is only tangentially relevant to this story. Carry on, everyone ...

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July 29, 2009 3:06 PM

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@Princess Leela: In an apartment building, if you turn off your AC during the day, you are relying on your neighbors to help keep your space cool. Not cool.

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July 29, 2009 3:35 PM

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@CrowMignon: So that means we should all waste energy and money all day long, every day? Plus I can assure you, my apartment is not \"cool\" when I come home.

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July 29, 2009 4:54 PM

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@Princess Leela: My point was that your uncooled apartment will be a drain on your neighbors resources if they are (home or not) cooling their apartments while you are out. Single family dwelling? Fine, let it cook. An apartment in a building full of people who come and go at different times during the day? You might be an AC parasite, willingly or not.

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July 29, 2009 6:36 PM

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@CrowMignon: I understood what you were saying. My point was that if you follow your logic, your apparent conclusion is that you think everyone should leave their AC on all the time, regardless of whether they are at home to need it. MY logic says that that is wasteful and bad for the environment. First off, what if I don't need as much AC as my neighbors in the first place? If someone is super heat-sensitive and cranks it up as soon as the mercury hits 80, does that mean I'm forced to do so as well so as not to be a \"parasite\"? Second, I don't mind if my neighbors turn the AC off while THEY'RE not home, even if it means I pay 0.001% more on my bill ... because if I do the same, it means I'm still saving more than I would if I left it on all damn day while I wasn't home.

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July 29, 2009 11:11 PM

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@Princess Leela: If you live in a perpetually hot and humid location, as many in this country do, you'd be stupid not to leave the AC or a dehumidifier on all day. Saving the environment is much lower on my list than being comfortable and living in a mold free house.

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Trai_Dep

July 29, 2009 9:16 PM

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@Princess Leela: Why do I get the feeling Crowmignon has an SUV with 20 cup holders?
I guess Prius drivers are selfish too, since they don't make a slipstream large enough for people behind them to get better (e.g., 42 instead of 45 MPG) mileage.

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July 29, 2009 5:10 PM

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@CrowMignon: Um... if I am out, and my window box is off, I am not stealing AC from my neighbor. That's stupid.

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July 29, 2009 5:12 PM

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@TheWillow: On the other hand, when my roommate goes out of town and leaves his window box on full blast, he *is* stealing money from me when we go halfies on the electric bill. Which is why I turn it off for him.

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July 29, 2009 2:05 PM

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@Princess Leela: Indeed. And if the house is well insulated and the shades closed, it remains pretty cool. Ofcourse, this works a lot better in an Apartment than in a full fledged house.

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zegolf

July 29, 2009 2:31 PM

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@MostlyHarmless: That's another really good point. Dark Curtains and closed shades really help to lower costs.

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July 29, 2009 2:02 PM

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@Princess Leela: OK, except my rant doesn't count if you have a pet, like BWoodle below.

","

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July 29, 2009 2:00 PM

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I've only had my air on one week so far this summer, and I can defiantly see the savings.

2 replies

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razremytuxbuddy

July 29, 2009 3:21 PM

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@crabbygeek: Me too--in south-central KS. A window fan at each end of the house (one in the bedroom, the other in the kitchen) has provided ample coolness, except for our few days of 100+ degrees we've had so far. I also utilize ceiling fans. I think people who live with a/c 24/7 have long forgotten how wonderful the fresh cool air feels in the mornings. Most early mornings before I get up, it's cool enough that I need to pull a blanket up over me to be comfortable.

Like others have said here, newer homes and apartments are not necessarily built for comfortable air flow, and that's a shame.

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MauriceCallidice

July 29, 2009 3:06 PM

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@crabbygeek: \"I can defiantly see the savings.\" I love the mental image this gave me. Something like Mel Gibson in blue facepaint staring across the plain at an array of bank statements.

(And no, I'm not mocking the spelling - I screw up my spelling all the time. I just found this really, really funny.)

","

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BWoodle

July 29, 2009 2:01 PM

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I leave my A/C on (at 80) during the day for the sake of my sweet, sweet Schnauzer. My electric bill was $130 in an 800 sq ft apartment last month! (Dallas, TX)

3 replies

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Trai_Dep

July 29, 2009 9:18 PM

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@BWoodle: Hair clippers will run you $20.

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squinko

July 29, 2009 2:22 PM

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@BWoodle: They make cooling beds for pets. That may help cut costs. I wonder if they also make a large cooling water dish.

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Aramon37

July 29, 2009 2:13 PM

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The first 2 years we lived in our new house we would keep the air running about 72-73 and have power bills upwards of $300 for a 2200 square foot house. After that we started keeping it a 75 and we havent had a power bill over $175 since. It took a couple weeks to get adjusted to it but after that it didnt really feel any different than it at 72-73.

","

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winshape

July 29, 2009 2:01 PM

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Add any sort of humidity to that heat, and you get mold. I'm sure the costs of mold removal outweigh the benefits of not having A/C.

I'd like to see her try this for one day in Tampa, FL.

2 replies

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Englishee Teacher

July 29, 2009 2:27 PM

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@winshape: I run my A/C unit here in Korea on a dehumidifier setting. According to the thermostat, it's almost always 28 degrees in my apartment (82F?) but the humidity can make it feel awful, and just running the humidifier makes it feel like the temperature has dropped ten degrees.

Even when I do run it, I never set it below 24 (75?) although I've caught teachers at my school changing the thermostat in my classroom down to 18 (64?)during class. I see that as a complete and utter waste.

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July 29, 2009 4:28 PM

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@Englishee Teacher: I wonder if a dehumidifier would work in my place here in Houston, and what the electricity cost would be compared to the A/C. And how long it would take before I needed a new dehumdifier because of the mold growing in the thing.

","

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starrion

July 29, 2009 2:02 PM

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Given that they are calling this \"the year without a summer\" here in Boston, going without AC has been an option up until this week.

The temps have been averaging in the 80's and it's starting to get hard to sleep.

Yes, you can do a way with a lot of physical comforts, skrimp and save so you can have the nicest funeral anyone can remember.

2 replies

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r.hinojosa

July 30, 2009 1:51 PM

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Haha the 80s!?! If only we had it so good in Austin, TX. It's been in the 100s all summer with high humidity.

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July 29, 2009 3:08 PM

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@starrion: They can have my AC when they pry it from my cold, dry, but necessarily dead, hands.

","

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missdona

July 29, 2009 2:02 PM

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My furnace died a couple of weeks back and the two weeks without central air were some of the grumpiest I can remember. That furnace couldn't be replaced fast enough.

","","","

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July 29, 2009 2:03 PM

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That may go over well with everyone inland, but the folks living on the coasts will have differing opinions.

On the gulf coast, you shut off your AC, you might as well hang a sign on the door saying \"SAUNA NOW OPEN\". With the relative humidity hovering around 75% and the temps in the 80s and 90s, equals HIGH heat indicies.

The folks living in dry areas can get away with using swamp coolers, but in the coastal areas, they'll just rust and fall to pieces within two years.

We NEED our AC to survive and be productive while living close to the warm waters of the gulf.

4 replies

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July 29, 2009 2:39 PM

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@Nighthawke: I sure hope your inland mention wasn't directed at the OP, considering she lives in Boston. A city that was built by filling in a harbor with dirt and sand.

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Trai_Dep

July 29, 2009 3:57 PM

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@JustinSane07: Dirt & sand? I thought they used tea!

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July 29, 2009 5:35 PM

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@Trai_Dep: What would you rather have? A Tea Party or a Lemon Party?

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July 29, 2009 3:11 PM

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@JustinSane07: If I did, I'd be banned in Boston too. ;p

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July 29, 2009 2:29 PM

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@Nighthawke: Before air conditioning became affordable to the masses, few people lived in places like the Gulf Coast. AC made Florida the fourth largest state, and might take the #3 spot from New York next Census. Miami was a sleepy little fishing and citrus farming village before AC turned it and the rest of the state into God's Waiting Room. Hemingway liked Key West because it was quiet and there weren't that many people around. It definitely was not the party capital of the state it is now. That was Florida and the Deep South before AC. Nobody lived there because it was too damn hot and muggy in the summertime.

Same goes for places like Las Vegas. If it weren't for the Hoover Dam bringing massive amounts of juice for air conditioners, would anyone even dream of going out to some dusty little town in the middle of the desert just to play cards? That was Las Vegas before AC. That was Phoenix before AC. That was Albuquerque before AC. That was El Paso before AC. Nobody lived in these places because it was just too goddamned hot out there in the Southwest.

Now Upstate NY? New England? The upper Midwest? You can always throw another log on the fire. You can always put on more clothes. You can't always deal with a heat wave without a higher level of technology than existed before refrigeration.

","

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mmmsoap

July 29, 2009 2:03 PM

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Of course, this advice doesn't apply to anyone in the Sun Belt. Any savings in electric bills would be negated by funeral costs.

There are many ways to build houses to be pretty efficient in terms of keeping cool during hot hot summers, that don't involve a lot of A/C. Sadly, many of these were not used in the US, but scope out homes in Italy and Greece and you see: light colored roofs to reflect the hot sun; spaces in the ceilings to direct the hot air up and away, keeping it cooler inside; shutters and shades for windows that are closed during the day; generally reducing activity during the hottest part of the day to lower need for cooling.

Places have been hot for a lot longer than we've had A/C available. I hate A/C overall, because people tend to go too far in the other direction, cooling places to 60° or worse, making me want long sleeves in August. A balmy 78-80° I'm fine with, but the sudden change from going in and out of a super-cooled building in the middle of summer is worse than the heat overall (at least, for me).

4 replies

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Greasy Thumb Guzik

July 29, 2009 3:23 PM

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@mmmsoap:
Almost every summer, Greece, Italy, France & the rest of the Mediterranean are hit with a massive heat wave that kills thousands.
They rarely have A/C & it shows.
As so many have written & we all know, it's the humidity that really drains you.
I'm in Chicago, just a mile from the lake & while this has been a bizarrely cool summer, the last 20 haven't!
It doesn't cool off at night here because the city & the lake just radiate heat all night.
During the killer heat wave of 1995 here, the highs were in the 105 range, but the lowest temp at my house was at 6 AM when it dropped to 91.
That's the only time I've ever had to run the big window unit that cools the first floor for 4 days straight without turning it off for a few hours every night.
And all those Gulf Coast cities were small towns before A/C & people weren't crowded into cities that are far hotter than a small town.

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Alys Brangwin knows who's bad

July 29, 2009 10:16 PM

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@Greasy Thumb Guzik: I lived in the one of the hottest places in Europe, and my host family had an air conditioner unit in the living room. All the houses and apartments I visited had A/C in the living room where the majority of activity took place. We only put it on in the afternoon a few times when it was too hot. We shut the heavy curtains, turned on the A/C for an hour, and consumed watermelon, gazpacho and lots of water to stay cool. The rooms had ceiling fans. It's not infeasible, and my friends in Italy too had an A/C unit somewhere in the place.

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July 29, 2009 2:20 PM

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@mmmsoap: I hate A/C too, which is a pretty sacreligious thing for someone in Georgia to say. Before I had a husband and a dog, I lived several summers in Athens, GA without A/C. But even now, the husband and I are able to keep our house here in Atlanta cool with minimal A/C. It was built in the 1940s and has a covered, screened-in porch and excellent airflow. We reserve A/C for those 85+ degree days -- the rest of the time, the place is really quite comfortable with just the windows and the porch door open. I wish more places were built like ours.

I cannot stand the shock of going from a frigid office to the balmy outdoors, either. The giant temperature shift actually gives me a headache. Also, it's July 29 and I'm wrapped up in a fleece here at my office. That's just wrong.

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July 29, 2009 4:31 PM

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@VeryFancyBunny: Oh, yeah, right. I lived in Athens and Atlanta, also. It's a piece of peach pie to keep a house moderately cool there compared to here in Houston. If I reserved A/C for just the above-85-degree days, I would have started in May and the damn thing wouldn't be shut off yet.

","

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July 29, 2009 2:04 PM

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i know that i may get flamed for this one, but has anyone noticed that over-weight/obese persons tend to be more sensitive to hot weather?

i've noticed that people who maintain a \"recommended\" weight (or are thin) tend to complain less when the heat soars over the 100d mark.

btw, i am in that \"Sun Belt\", southern california, so I do hear a lot of complaining from others.

9 replies

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Kat@Work

July 29, 2009 4:26 PM

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@SnowingCookies: I know what you're saying - and that applies, to a degree. My sister in law and brother in law will NOT sit outside with us in the evening if they visit because they just bitch and moan about how hot it is, and they're both morbidly obese.

However, this year (in Houston at least) even my 160 lb 5'10\" husband is saying its too friggin' hot - and he LIKES the heat.

So, yeah, its just damn hot.

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July 29, 2009 3:29 PM

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@SnowingCookies: I went somewhere with a family friend this March/April and yup, she had the air turned on in the car. This person is truly morbidly obese and was complaining of being hot in the car meanwhile the rest of us in the car were freezing our behinds off! I live in NY state. Its usually still snowing in March. Yes, there is a good reason to use the air in the car during the summer months, but it wasn't even remotely warm in the car even with the sun that day.

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katia802

July 29, 2009 3:15 PM

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@SnowingCookies: On the other end of the scale, have you ever noticed that very thin people are always complaining of being cold. Can't win i guess.

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July 29, 2009 2:57 PM

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@SnowingCookies: I don't think you'll get flamed for this...I've noticed the same thing, and I bet there's a scientific reason for it. I hate to make this comparison, but you know...it's like how Arctic animals have blubber. My boyfriend is heftier than I am (but far from obese), and he runs much hotter than I do. I also have crappy circulation, so that doesn't help either...

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July 29, 2009 2:21 PM

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@SnowingCookies: Anyone with health issues, from old age to circulation problems to obesity, will have problems regulating their body temperature.

I'm underweight, but I also have circulation problems, so the heat sucks for me.

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Saboth

July 29, 2009 2:10 PM

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@SnowingCookies:

Lol well there are several reasons our body even has fat in it. It is a backup energy store, it provides cushioning for organs, and it is also our main insulator against cold. An obese person's fat is akin to wearing a fur coat in the summer.

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July 29, 2009 3:11 PM

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I grew up with no AC but that was in Monterey, CA. Now living in Sacramento there is no freaking way I would turn it off.@Saboth: That's why offices now are much colder than they used to be.

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July 29, 2009 4:32 PM

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@The_Red_Monkey: Our offices are probably freezing because we have lots of employees from places like the North Sea. They sweat and moan and refuse to go out in the noonday sun when the locals are all about \"how terrific it is outside today.\"

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July 29, 2009 2:23 PM

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@Saboth: \"An obese person's fat is akin to wearing a fur coat in the summer.\"

OMG! I may actually say that a few times today - just for the jaw-dropping-WOW!-effect of it all.

And Leela, thanks for that perspective! You are so correct about that cold-thing. it just seems easier being thin and to be able to put on a jacket/extra blanket and staying warm in the winter than not having many options while being over-weight in the summer.

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July 29, 2009 3:02 PM

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@SnowingCookies:

i can't tell if you're being snarky or not, but yeah, that's what it feels like--a winter coat in summer. i was miserable growing up as the chubby girl in humid, humid DC. not only was i physically uncomfortable, but i didn't really have the option of wearing teeny clothing without looking ridiculous or indecent. there's really nothing like being an awkward 13 year-old fat girl with a sweating problem.

and then i lost all the weight and promptly moved to SF where, ironically, it's ridiculously cold in the summer (i think its about 55 right now), and half the time i need to bundle up. go figure.

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July 29, 2009 3:03 PM

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@Paprika Jones:

sorry for the life story. in conclusion, AC is nice if you really need it. if you don't want to use it, don't use it.

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BWoodle

July 29, 2009 2:55 PM

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@SnowingCookies: I just prefer to get fat and lazy in the winter and run all the extra weight off in the summer. I am a seasonal mammal

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July 29, 2009 2:06 PM

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@SnowingCookies: On the other hand, thin people don't do as well in the cold. Six of one, half-dozen of the other ...

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dprboyne

July 29, 2009 2:05 PM

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Window AC in the bedroom can be an effective savings. Only run it when I'm in there (6 - 8 hours at a time). When it's below 80 outside, I open the windows. The rest of the house does get a little warmer, but with a dehumidifier it's actually not too bad. Fans and cool beverages are very helpful too. I have central air but haven't turned it on in more than two years.

Disclaimer: I live by myself in the Midwest in a detached single-family house. It doesn't get as crazy hot and humid as other parts of the country, nor do I have anyone else's comfort to consider. Many nights I can open the windows and turn on the fan instead.

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sirwired

July 29, 2009 2:17 PM

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@dprboyne: FYI, all a dehumidifier consists of is an A/C where the heat just gets dumped right back into the room. A window A/C of the same amperage will remove just as much humidity for the same amount of electricity, and cool a little bit besides.

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I Love New Jersey

July 29, 2009 2:06 PM

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When it is über humid and in the 80s or 90s AC is really not a luxury.

Also, you can only drink so much water. When you start having dehydration problems it is best to turn on the AC.

3 replies

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squinko

July 29, 2009 2:23 PM

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@I Love New Jersey: If you're drinking enough water to keep up with your sweating, you shouldn't be dehydrated. If it gets that bad, get some Pedialyte or Gatorade or something with electrolytes in it.

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ohnoes

July 29, 2009 3:20 PM

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@squinko - applauds the death of FBC: You could always eat pretzels with your water. Or lick the sweat off your body. Or someone else's body.

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July 29, 2009 3:12 PM

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@squinko - applauds the death of FBC: Brawndo!

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squinko

July 29, 2009 3:15 PM

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@CrowMignon: Wow. I'm surprised that's a real drink. I figured it was like Powerthirst or something.

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July 29, 2009 2:07 PM

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I think this is more about weeding out people who perhaps didn't need AC in the first place, than actually doing without AC in those parts of the country where it's a basic human necessity.

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July 29, 2009 2:08 PM

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Summer has been almost non-existent here in Michigan this year. We've used our AC for 2 days so far (in May!)

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billbillbillbill

July 29, 2009 2:09 PM

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Gotta love living in the desert and using my evaporative (swamp) cooler. Keeps the house cool and is cheep to run compared to central air. Of course, the trade off is I have to live in the frickin desert.

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July 29, 2009 2:09 PM

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Yeah, maybe not. Tampa's summer temperatures peak in July to mid-90s F, with humidity hovering near 80%. Imagine yourself in a sauna twenty-four hours a day.

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July 29, 2009 2:11 PM

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This is really for people in places like New England, Upstate New York, or the Northern Tier states. We haven't installed our window ACs this year because it hasn't gotten hot enough to warrant their use. It came close yesterday, but one day isn't enough to make me want to lug those things out of the garage.

Besides, once you install a window unit, you lose the functionality of that window until you take it out in the fall. I have found open windows and oscillating floor fans quite sufficient this year.

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July 29, 2009 3:31 PM

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@HurtsSoGood: Upstate NY can also get very hot and humid on the right day. I spend most of my time in an upstairs room where even if its only 70 degrees out with blazing sun the room will heat up to 80+ degrees very quickly. However we only need a window unit as it really is a very small room (with only one window). But to live without air in this room is impossible, we have tried and it just isn't possible.

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July 29, 2009 2:53 PM

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@HurtsSoGood: wall units FTW

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July 29, 2009 2:12 PM

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Like a lot of people have already said, it's easy to do this in places like Boston and Michigan were it's cool most of the year. But you couldn't do this in places like Houston, where I grew up.

Tell you what Blogger Boston Gal, I'll ditch me central air in August when you ditch your central heat in January.

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July 29, 2009 2:12 PM

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We lived in upstate New York for about 8 years and only had a window A/C and only used it for a few nights a year but needed heat for months. Now we live in North Carolina where we only use the heat for a few days a year and the rest of the time the A/C. Same story, different tune.

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July 29, 2009 2:13 PM

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You'll pry my AC from my cold, dead hands. I have circulation issues, and start sweating buckets when it gets even remotely warm out. While I'm sure the water bill from taking 3 showers a day and washing clothes more often wouldn't exceed my AC bill, IMO the extra money is worth not feeling like crap for 3-4 months.

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July 29, 2009 2:19 PM

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Another bad thing for places that were built with central air is this.....the house was built to be cooled/heated with that design.....i live in an older house, it was built for cross ventilation, so that we can open the windows and get a breeze going through the house, not many newer houses these days are built for that.

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July 29, 2009 2:20 PM

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Due to a drainage issue (A/C in utility closet in the apartment, drain pipe for condensation was clogged) my wife and I recently had to go without A/C for a few days and where we live it was MISERABLE. It gets up around 100 degrees during the day and we live on the top floor of our apartment building. It was so hot that neither of us could sleep. I was able to sleep for about 20 minutes at a time before I'd be woken up due to being stuck to the sheets. We ended up staying with my grandparents until our A/C was back on. Our electricity is also fairly cheap where we live. Our electric bill for our 2 bedroom apartment during winter is about 30 bucks, and during summer it's between 50-60 - and that keeps our apartment at 72 during the day and 68 (we like it cold when we sleep) at night.

One of the advantages of living on the top floor is we get everyone else's heat during winter. It can be 20 degrees outside and we have to open the windows. We didn't run our heater at all last year.

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July 29, 2009 2:21 PM

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I think it's really just a matter of deciding what things are important to you and spending money on those. Being comfortable in my house with my central AC is important to me, so I run it. Having cable is not important to me, so I don't have it. If two things are equally important but you can only afford one, then it's a tougher choice, but in general I think people can fairly easily prioritize what expenses are most to least important and cut starting from the least end as needed.

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CumaeanSibyl

July 29, 2009 2:25 PM

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Sometimes I run just the furnace fan, to keep air circulating. I don't know how much that costs, but I think it's less than running the AC... at least, I hope so.

A box fan in the bedroom window during the day helps make it comfortable for sleeping at night. Also (I think) costs less than AC.

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captadam

July 29, 2009 2:26 PM

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Granted, the summer is unusually cool here in Ohio--but I've found that, even during normal summers, I can keep the house comfortable with a window fans about 90% of the time. When the house is 80 degrees or more at 11 pm, then the AC comes on--but only for the night.

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July 29, 2009 2:27 PM

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In my admittedly limited experience, this actually is possible to do in much warmer and more humid climates than Boston, but only provided that your domicile is actually appropriately built for such weather.

If you have to live in a home that can keep in warm air in the winter, it's not going to feel very nice in the summer.

Home central air is very rare in very humid, very hot southeastern Mexico (100+, 90%, etc..), where homes are built to be open, airy, and also largely shaded from the sun. Commercial and public buildings usually have AC, but plenty of people live quite comfortably in their homes without even window units. Of course.. they still complain about how fracking miserable summers are there, but they live.

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July 29, 2009 2:27 PM

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I'd like to see her try that with heat in the winter.

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July 29, 2009 2:32 PM

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@Skankingmike: I live in Arizona. I never turn on the heat in the winter!

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July 29, 2009 2:32 PM

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I'm alright in the heat when I'm just lounging around provided I have a fan. But when I'm sleeping? I need it cool. I can't stand sweating while trying to sleep.

I'm moving into a house with central A/C but I don't think we'll use it often. But since I have a chinchilla, I'll prolly just put my window unit in my room to keep my room cool.

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July 29, 2009 2:33 PM

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\"Unthinkable! Can't be done here!\"

Good god. Y'all make it sound like 3/4 of the United States was completely uninhabitable prior to the invention of AC.

4 replies

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July 29, 2009 6:00 PM

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@OneTrickPony: homes that are properly built for the climate are not often what developers build in today's US.

If you go to Puerto Rico for example. They use an all concrete model and tile floors. They then use ceiling fans in the rooms. My family's house in the mountains has no air conditioning. I was hot but it wasn't unbearable.

Here we use the New England style of home construction which doesn't work in say Texas or Florida.

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Xay

July 29, 2009 6:00 PM

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@OneTrickPony: A lot of the US was uninhabitable before modern convieniences and technology. Ask any demographer or historian.

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cc82

July 29, 2009 2:57 PM

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@OneTrickPony:
Pretty much. In fact, it was probably was the real cause of the Civil War; the Confederates just wanted to take over the more temperate territory.

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July 29, 2009 2:55 PM

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@OneTrickPony: Have you noticed how home design has changed since the dawn of the 20th century? Kinda can't go wait it out on the veranda anymore.

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Skater009

July 29, 2009 2:33 PM

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OK if you think so

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duncanblackthorne

July 29, 2009 2:37 PM

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I rent a duplex, it's got a flat roof, it's poorly insulated to start with, and I live in Sacramento. If it's 100 degrees outside, it's 95 degrees inside the house if the air's not on. I don't think anybody can -- or should -- try to sleep in conditions like that. Thanks for the tip, but no thanks.

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July 29, 2009 2:37 PM

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An alternative to central AC is whole house fan. They work really well in climates, where the temperature drops considerably at night. They work by sucking the hot air out of the house and replacing it with the cooler air from outside. My in-laws have one, and they've never had to use AC. We plan to install one in our house eventually.

[www.energysavers.gov]

1 replies

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July 29, 2009 4:53 PM

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@algorhythmic: Growing up in Lincoln, NE, our house had one of those. Noisy as anything but man, it really kept the house cool. We'd keep all windows and doors open and the thing would suck the air through. Going up the stairs to the 2nd floor though was like going through a wind tunnel. Sometimes it felt like you'd be sucked up into the fan if you didn't hold on to the railing.

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OminousG

July 29, 2009 2:40 PM

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I shut off the AC every time I go to work. I come home between 6 and 7 pm, at that time the house is still around 90F.

I'm able to survive with it set at 81F, even if my xbox 360 isn't. But to get rid of it completely? Hell no.

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Rachacha

July 29, 2009 2:40 PM

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AC on a programmable thermostat that keeps the house at 75 in the summer when we are home (any warmer, and the humidity becomes unbearable). When we are not at home, the thermostat is set to turn on at about 85. If it is really humid outside, we will run a behumidifier in the basement to help the AC unit remove some of the moisture in the air (which will allow us to turn the thermostat up a bit.

In the winter, the house is kept at between 70-72. Once I get the humidifier in the house working, I can turn the heat down a bit more...but my daughter complains it is too cold.

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July 29, 2009 2:43 PM

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At my old apartment here in NYC we had central a/c and boy did it suck up the juice. I think our electric bill was something like $400/mo. Since then we've moved (to approximately the same size ~850sqft place) and we only have window air conditioners, but now our electric bill is more like $150/mo. We can keep individual rooms thermostatically controlled.

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July 29, 2009 2:45 PM

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While going without central may be a cost saver in the short run, remember that in the long run it serves a really important function beyond cooling: de-humidifying. You may be able to take the heat and the sweat, but your drywall cannot. If you live in a humid climate, you will get mold if you do this over time. Consider a happy medium, such as setting the AC level at something around 80: not so low that it runs all day, but low enough that it will cycle occasionally and dry out the air. It may be painful to see those monthly bills, but it's cheaper than dirt compared to the cost of eliminating a mold outbreak.

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angryneo

July 29, 2009 2:46 PM

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Central TX has record-high temps this summer...highest since the 1880s. Yeah...not getting rid of my AC, sorry.

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July 29, 2009 2:46 PM

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Here in the midwest where the humidity can be brutal, not having the AC would be a major discomfort but even more critical, it would ruin the woodwork and wood furniture in the house as well as reek havoc on all my electrical devices. I just turn it up to around 80-85 degrees which keeps the humidity out and doesn't result in an unmanageable electric bill.

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July 29, 2009 2:47 PM

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Hmmm. Having lived in hot and humid climates all my life, I can't say higher thread counts make a good difference, but probably a bad one. Cotton is generally poor at wicking moisture and needs as much air space between threads as is possible to breathe effectively. Also, higher thread count sheets tend to insulate more than lower thread count sheets. I think it's actually common to switch to cheaper, 150-or-so thread count sheets in the summer. It really makes a difference. Also, some companies sell Modal and rayon sheets which have a slightly less soft touch than cotton, but wick moisture much more effectively.

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chiieddy

July 29, 2009 2:48 PM

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I haven't had central air in any place I've owned or rented in New England. I've always had a bedroom A/C and more recently got one for the kitchen so I can cook comfortably on days like today. My husband insisted because he didn't like sandwiches for dinner every night in the summer. :)

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savdavid

July 29, 2009 2:53 PM

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Yep, I live in Savannah next to the humid Atlantic Ocean and so far South it is dog days from May to September. This option from Boston is ridiculous.

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cc82

July 29, 2009 2:53 PM

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Ugh I used to live in a crappy third floor apt. in Boston without A/C and my bedroom had poor ventilation. Summers were miserable, sleeping drenched in sweat is no fun in my book. Boston gets a lot hotter/more humid than you'd think.
Now I live in NC and would definitely die without central air.

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calquist

July 29, 2009 2:55 PM

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Get a job. Enjoy the AC for free and only spend the coolest times of the day (early morning and evening) at your house with a fan ;)

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gabrewer

July 29, 2009 2:57 PM

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I think to some extent it's a matter of acclimating yourself to your environment. In our house in NE hot, humid Atlanta, I set our programmable thermostat at 80 degrees during the day when we're gone. It comes down a degree shortly before we come home and then another degree at bedtime. We keep the blinds closed on the sunny side of the house and turn on the ceiling fans when we're there. Sure it's a bit uncomfortable, but you kind of get used to it over time and actually start to dislike being in places where the AC is cranked too cold. My wife actually takes a sweater to restuarants, theaters, and other public places because she finds them too cold -- in the middle of July.

As for those complaining that it can't be done, it was for thousands of years before AC was invented. I remember visiting my grandparents farmhouse in rural north Florida as a child -- wide open windows and doors and the hum of fans throughout the house. Somehow they did just fine.

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July 29, 2009 3:01 PM

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Part of it is getting used to it and aclimatizing yourself to the temperature.

In a northern suburb of Nashville, TN: As I related on an energy savings post, my wife and I run a small window a/c unit in our bedroom (with connected bath room) at night. This due to the fact that she works from home during the day. We did have a big jump to $175 for June/July versus $90 for May/June due to running the house a/c unit more. (We had the window unit from when our previous apartment a/c went out, maintenance had to order a part to repair it, and due to the wife working from home, spending $110 for a window unit was a good investment as was the comfort in trading it between her office and our bedroom.)

I would run ceiling fans but the wife is both cold blooded and also has difficulty with her eyes drying out with protracted air movement.

That said, all lights use CFL's and we insulated the hot water heater and any hot water pipes we could get to due to it being a slab home.

We also closed off the air vents to non-used rooms like the spare bedroom and laundry room. I have also experimented with cooling the attic via a box fan laid down flat across the pull-down stair opening in the un-airconditioned garage with the garage door up about 10 inches. It seems to help some.

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TVGenius

July 29, 2009 3:10 PM

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Yeah, let's see... it was 117˚ here yesterday, how about NO.

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sgtlizzie

July 29, 2009 3:15 PM

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Here in AZ it wouldn't work for the most part, but I do try to keep my bills down by running the ac at a higher temp and having fans. My comfort level and pocketbook are a constant odds though I will admit. I like it chill, but not enough to pay out the wazoo for it.

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kexline

July 29, 2009 3:23 PM

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I live in Atlanta and, after carelessly letting my electric bill triple in June, have kept the AC off for most of July. I almost have AC at work, and at home I'm generally able to get away with wearing light clothing and running fans. I put a small fan under my desk a couple of weeks ago, and it's surprisingly effective. Sometimes I have to turn it off in the evening because my feet get too cold.

If it's too hot to sleep, I can lower my body temperature with a cool bath just before bedtime. I do still turn the AC on at night if I don't have time for a soak, but that's it.

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razremytuxbuddy

July 29, 2009 3:30 PM

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@kexline: @Monkey_Business: Speaking of Atlanta and Houston, those are two cities where when I travel in the summer, I take long sleeves, and jackets. The southern states, and particularly those two cities, tend to freeze me out with their a/c. I don't know if they realize it or not, but they could turn the thermostat way up, and everyone would probably still be comfortable.

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kexline

July 29, 2009 4:50 PM

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@razremytuxbuddy: I associate that more with Florida -- and it's a guilty pleasure on vacation, when you're going inside and outside a lot. But yeah, it does happen here. I went to summer school once because I wanted to graduate early, and I had to wear a heavy wool poncho every day. I'd get so thoroughly chilled that I'd drive around with the heat on after school.

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razremytuxbuddy

July 29, 2009 6:09 PM

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@kexline: LOL, I've done the same in my car. You know the a/c temp is too low when it feels good to walk outside and then get into a car that's been sitting in the sun for a couple of hours.

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Monkey_Business

July 29, 2009 3:23 PM

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umm .. yeah, this isn't an option for us here in drought sought Texas. The temperature here in Houston has been around a lovely 100 + degrees with the humidity of a South American rainforest. The a/c bills are outrageous down here but what can ya do? ... cant go without it.

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littlemisslondon

July 29, 2009 3:29 PM

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I am 8 months pregnant. There is no way in hell I'm giving up my sweet, sweet central air.

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meg9

July 29, 2009 3:32 PM

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150 a month doesn't sound very expensive for air conditioning. I'd gladly pay that.

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Trai_Dep

July 29, 2009 3:34 PM

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Ah, for the days when if it was too hot, you'd simply run around naked.

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July 29, 2009 3:37 PM

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Giving up AC could also be dangerous for people who have certain conditions, small children (they can dehydrate quicker than you think) and elderly people especially if you are living in a very hot area. How many people died in Chicago that one year where they had a whole bunch of 100+ degree days? In some places they have programs that give elderly people free air conditioners because they can't afford one, in order to keep the population from dying in the summer. Please don't give up the AC or encourage your family members to give it up if it will be dangerous to your health!

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July 29, 2009 3:40 PM

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$150/month in the summer for AC bills? That sounds really high. I cool a 2-story house during the summer months. My bill goes from 80/month to 150-170 for 2.5 months (July, August, and some bits of September). If my electricity bill were to go to 300/month during the summer, I might pursue alternatives. Up till that point, I won't be complaining too much. Considering heating bills are 250/month during the winter, electricity bills are relatively cheap.

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Waiting for the next Ren Fest

July 29, 2009 3:42 PM

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You notice she doesn't mention heating in the winter.

A recent article in Wired pointed out that it is more energy efficient (better for the environment and cheaper) to to cool a house 35 degrees (110 to 75) than to heat a house 50 degrees (5 to 60).

Granted, there are other issues, but ask her to go without heat, which you could probably pull off in Austin, and see what happens.

1 replies

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July 30, 2009 3:56 AM

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@lgerstel: I was curious, so I looked up Austin's average temperature in January. Um, the average high is SIXTY, and the average low is FOURTY. I still keep my window open at night when it gets below 40. No way do you need heat. So doable.

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wyldmuse

July 29, 2009 3:52 PM

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We haven't had air conditioning for many, many years, and we live in the heat and humidity of Arkansas summers. You do get used to the temperatures after a while, and you learn how to maximize comfort. We painted the roof white, kept shade trees around the house, have fans pulling in cool air during the night, close the shades in the morning to keep the sun from heating the place up, etc. There's a lot you can do. During intense heat waves, when the temps hit upper 90s to 100s, you do your chores or work in the early morning, eat light, cool meals like salads and sandwiches (so you don't heat up the house further), and you go on with life. We are rewarded with electric bills around $30 to $40, but we don't do it just for the savings. Both of us grew up without A/C, so it's no big deal to us.

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admiral_stabbin

July 29, 2009 4:03 PM

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Should I feel guilty for replacing my central air and furnace back in May? If I should...I don't. ;-)

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July 29, 2009 4:40 PM

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I'm in Austin. We've had something like 29 out of the last 31 days have been over 100 degrees. And humid.

Thanks, but no thanks.

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pfriedel

July 29, 2009 4:48 PM

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The house my wife and I bought doesn't have central air (in WI), and we haven't needed a window unit the past couple of summers either. You really get used to the 80's. The 90's are a bit harder, and three figures can be pretty rough. But around here that's maybe a week or two, tops. Probably the biggest problem is that most businesses (restaurants, stores, etc) start to seem like you walked into a meat locker because the temperature gap from what you're used to is so large.

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nfs

July 29, 2009 4:54 PM

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Might work in the far Northeast or Canada, but no way in Texas or Oklahoma. there have been days of triple digit weather, and going without a/c is like sitting inside an oven.

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July 29, 2009 5:10 PM

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That's all good and well in Boston but not in Mississippi. I'll give up eating out, cable TV, internet, phone and smoking before I'll give up my air conditioning!

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psm321

July 29, 2009 5:12 PM

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People saving $150 a month most either live in extremely hot areas or keep their thermostat way too low. I was raised by my parents in the \"no AC unless its ridiculously crazy hot and humid\" school of thought (to save money of course), but once I actually tried it out I realized that keeping a decent temperature (in Michigan) with the AC is actually not that expensive and a heck of a lot more comfortable.

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edguitar

July 29, 2009 5:18 PM

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I know is already stated in the article but...
Try to do that in south FL Boston Gal I dare you!, no I double dare you! I triple dare you with sugar on top!!!! I'm gonna blog how i can survive withou heat in the winter

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July 29, 2009 5:47 PM

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It's MUCH better advice to get a programmable thermostat. I had central air in my last house and made the costs minimal by programming it to not be on while I was at work, and to cool it to acceptable levels just before I was scheduled to come home.

Of course it saves on heating costs, too, but you want to set the minimum to about 68 degrees so that your pipes don't freeze.

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TheShepherd

July 29, 2009 5:50 PM

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I know its a cardinal sin, but I have to call shenanigans on the OP. I live in Boston, I don't currently have central air, but I have in the past.

I'm a polar bear and I start to melt when the temp is over 68...as you can imagine when i had central AC, I had it set to 59 and cranked nonstop all the time. My Electric bill was never over $100 at any point. The point that I am trying to make is that the OP must have an insanely inefficient system if she was able to see $150 savings on her electric bill in some months just by not using the AC.

And as far as staying cool, the best tip about sheets is not high thread count, its to go with bamboo.

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July 29, 2009 5:51 PM

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Geo. Cheap. Love it.

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Rachacha

July 29, 2009 7:03 PM

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@balthisar: I am considering going w/ a Geo Thermal heat pump in my next house (or my current house if I am still in it when the current HVAC system dies.

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Xay

July 29, 2009 6:04 PM

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I'm going to blog about how I hardly ever use heat in the winter. Even though I live in Florida, it's a great option for anyone! Just wear a few extra layers and leave your oven door cracked when you finish using it.

After all, it's not like people didn't live in Sweden and Canada without central heating!

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colorisnteverything

July 29, 2009 6:47 PM

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They don't generally live in Sweden, my guess is, with \"central heating - much like the rest of Europe. They use radioators. And if you have ever lived in a house heated this way, you realize the inefficiency in it and wish that you had duct work. It is just not very warm. Great for drying towels, but not great for heating a house.

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Xay

July 29, 2009 6:58 PM

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@colorisnteverything:
Way to completely miss my point.

Unfortunately, I have never had the pleasure of spending time in Sweden. I don't recall how the heating worked in Germany, France, or Switzerland (too young and oblivious to care) and in England, we had a very inefficient radiator directly under the window.

I spent my college years in dorms heated with radiators. Fortunately, I didn't need to get a humidifier because a pot of water on the radiator worked just fine.

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July 29, 2009 6:05 PM

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NO. Just no.

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colorisnteverything

July 29, 2009 6:06 PM

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Sorry, but I have a LOT of problems with this advice.

1. She's in BOSTON?! It doesn't even get that HOT in Boston. I am outside of Chicago most summers and you NEED AC not even for the heat all the time but for the humidity. I am currently outside of London (have been all summer) and you rarely need AC for the heat, but sometimes the humidity is a killer. I am asthmatic, so there is no way around needing the AC.

2. Buying those sheets alone will cost you the savings for one month. Buying two sets will cost you two months - when you mainly only need AC for those two months.

3. Having to use an ice maker repeatedly throughout the day is a waste of energy. My mother, the eco lady, refuses to buy one with an ice maker, which is why we never had a \"cool\" two door refrigerator as a kid. I only care about the money really, but the savings is clear. If you are constantly opening your freezer as well, you are also loosing energy savings. Also, you will be seeing a higher food waste ratio. Ever wonder why when it is hot the milk goes bad faster? The hotter it is when you open up the door, the faster your food will spoil. It sounds crazy, but is true. That is something your grandmother will probably tell you and you best heed her advice!

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July 29, 2009 6:22 PM

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@colorisnteverything: plus when it's hot you're more likely to open the door more OFTEN to get cold drinks.

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colorisnteverything

July 29, 2009 6:44 PM

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Yup. It's a vicious cycle. If it is 85 or higher, our air will be on. If it is over 80 at 7PM, the air is on as well. Just turn the dang AC on!

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Duke_Newcombe sez íViva la Revolucion de Chihuahua!

July 29, 2009 6:32 PM

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A giant FAIL for this idea from sunny Central California. I'm all for conservations and saving money (duh!!), but I work too damned hard, slaving away over a hot keyboard to be miserable at home, in anything but an absolutely Arctic environment.

Now, let's talk about making more efficient our existing AC units, insulation, and better windows.

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golddog

July 29, 2009 6:33 PM

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Something that no one mentioned in the 1st 4 pages - and will probably get lost back here - is that if you replace your existing a/c unit with a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating), you'll spend a fraction of what you're paying now. They are more expensive initially but if you're saving more the $150 a month by turning your existing unit off, you'll pay for the upgrade in short order AND be comfortable. Most utilities where a/c is not optional (for most humans) offer rebates on high SEER units b/c it greatly reduces demand during peak hours. Obviously not an option for renters or condo owners though.

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July 29, 2009 6:36 PM

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Until recently this summer - in Boston - has been unseasonably cool since May. My electric bill is half of where it should be, because we tried to go as long as possible without it. But there was one big unintended consequence. Dust and pollen levels skyrocketed. There was a yellow film throughout the house for weeks. Not worth it.

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sybann

July 29, 2009 6:43 PM

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Living in NC I have learned to slowly increase the low but you can pry my AC outta my warm dead fingers.

I'd get a 2nd job for central air.

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July 29, 2009 7:10 PM

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Folks in the Sun Belt shouldn't try this? South Alabama right 'chere. I share a house with my cousins, our central A/C went out last September. We never fixed it, halfway sweating it out for a month. We survived.

Fast forward to this summer of 2009, we still haven't gotten it fixed. A glass of cold water every other hour, open windows with screens, plus ceiling and box fans that are only on when someone is in the room--reminds us of past summers at our grandparents.

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IronCrow

July 29, 2009 7:18 PM

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From Texas: If the sheets make a difference then it ain't real heat.

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July 29, 2009 7:19 PM

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HA...HAHAHA...I don't think so. I can't live without A/C.

How about advising people who live in winter climates to walk everywhere they go in -35C?

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

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July 30, 2009 4:00 AM

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@SilverBlade2k: I went to college at a huge school in the upper midwest, and it routinely took me 20+ minutes to walk to class. Classes were never cancelled, even when wind-chills reached 40 below. I just wore long underwear. And three pairs of wool socks.

I guess us upper-midwesties are just tougher than you. ;)

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Lonetree

July 29, 2009 9:38 PM

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@SilverBlade2k: I walk everywhere I need to go when it's that cold. Just need to wear more insulation.

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sponica

July 29, 2009 7:42 PM

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We never had central air anywhere... Our house had a subterranean level and a basement, and those floors were always naturally cooled.

We run one window unit on ht second floor of the condo, and that cools the entire second floor. We run a portable unit on the 1st floor, and that keeps the first floor cool. The only floor that is a hot space is 3rd floor. We have those stupid alpine windows that push out, so it's impossible to put fans in the windows. The ceiling fan in the stairwell just moves the air around. I've tried sucking the cool air up from the 2nd floor, no luck. Tried reversing direction....no luck. So I sit with many fans from many directions and create my own wind tunnel.

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July 29, 2009 8:14 PM

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Wait, what? When I lived in California this was possible but not in Utah. In California even though we weren't right on the ocean we were close enough to get the evening cooling effect. In Utah there isn't much of that.

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JuliB

July 29, 2009 9:16 PM

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My HOA doesn't allow for window air units. Not that I would want one anyway!

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July 29, 2009 9:35 PM

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Not gonna happen. My friends call me \"PolarBear\" for a reason.

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jimb213

July 29, 2009 10:13 PM

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okay, so the weather is just sorta freaking me out this year. Everywhere else in North America people are talking about too much rain, \"the year without a summer,\" and a bunch of stuff like that. But in Texas we've had more than 30 days of 100+ temperatures (not quite all in a row), and are in a pretty severe drought, with no end in sight.

Can y'all northerners wave a bunch of fans or something to send the cool weather and rain towards Austin?

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July 29, 2009 10:28 PM

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Exactly! Gotta love the Water restriction plans coming out soon... Here in corpus they want to restrict water to bare minimum while the city keeps watering their building's flowers.

It is not an option for us to turn the A/C off... I would give anything for a good month or three of rain... Or even a few degrees of cool.

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July 29, 2009 10:25 PM

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When i lived in Bridgeville, Pa it wasn't a problem to turn the A/C off all day until about 7pm. Now that im in Corpus Christi, TX there is no way i could. My african dog can't even take the heat outside let alone laying on soft carpet in a hot house with no A/C. It's staying at a prime 95-100 here. No rain for the last.. err so many months i don't know.

This tip should read \"If you live anywhere with cool summers, go ahead and turn it off. Otherwise, don't read any further.\"

im sure, if it were possible to do it, tons of people would. It's just not a good idea in such high heat.

Hell, i go out and water the house from time to time when it gets super hot.

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July 30, 2009 1:58 AM

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Like not having an engine blocl heater may be possible in balmy Boston but not Calgary, no AC is possible in balmy Boston but nowhere south of the Mason-Dixon.

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July 30, 2009 2:22 AM

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This might work for some people, but I cannot take the heat well. I can't even take being in a room in the summer where the air isn't being circulated. Besides, the house where I currently live isn't bad to cool as my bill for June didn't even hit a hundred dollars, even though many of those days involved the air conditioner running almost all day.

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July 30, 2009 2:39 AM

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I wonder how comfy Ms Frugalpants was in the near-90F/90% humidity of the past two days in the greater Boston area.

I tried, believe me, but the lure of 20% off all window air conditioners at Lowe's (plus no sales tax at the Nashua NH store) was too much to resist. $207 for a 10,000btu unit? Sold. I know it's worth it when I walk outside and my glasses steam up.

Seriously, I'm a cheap bastard, but I refuse to suffer. Besides, we've barely had any summer here this year; this is the first week that's been really nasty, and it's nearly August. Unclamp a bit and live.

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medic78

July 30, 2009 2:56 AM

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I hope no one around here reads this. I already have to identify way too many bodies pulled from houses that don't have the a/c running. Usually, the only reason someone calls the police is because of a \"funny smell\".

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bkdlays

July 30, 2009 3:23 AM

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This is retarded... don't be so cheap!

Once its running it stays cool.

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July 30, 2009 4:16 AM

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In Seattle, summer highs are usually around 75, and just about nobody even has central air. Of course, today it was 103 :(

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July 30, 2009 6:59 AM

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sure you can do that in Boston! I've been hopping back and forth between Louisiana and California for a number of years and it would be nuts to try that in either of those states.

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July 30, 2009 11:29 AM

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A properly-designed (and maintained) central AC is far less expensive to run than window ACs.

Case in point: My central AC uses 619 watts on its first stage of cooling (13,000 BTUs), 1473 watts on its 2nd stage of cooling (28000 BTUs). For comparison, an Energy Star rated 6,000 BTU window AC draws 545 watts. If I followed this article's advice, my electrical usage would more than double and comfort would suffer terribly. Bad advice.

1200 sqft in Florida, single family, electric bill just came in for July. $44. That's 76-80F, 46% RH. I'm home most days (76F), AC drops back to 78F at night when I'm asleep, 80F when I'm out. Electric hot water as well and still $44. Not sure how you can get much less expensive than this.

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r.hinojosa

July 30, 2009 1:49 PM

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Not in Texas. If you don't have air conditioning, you will bake.

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RobinB

July 30, 2009 5:20 PM

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This is our first summer not using our central A/C--and we are saving $200 a month so far. Of course, August may be a whole other story.

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July 31, 2009 12:56 AM

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Here in Miami, we keep ice water around just to stay hydrated enough to stay alive. I can't even imagine not having central air here.

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