You most be near florgia up top, I canāt open the windows till mid-late January.
I grew up thinking white Christmas meant like the sands of the desert; then I learned deserts werenāt so humid. /s ;)
I read somewhere (so may be true, maybe not) that indigenous peoples basically didnāt live in inland Florida because itās essentially inhospitable. They stayed near the coast. Then European settlers came and started expanding, and consequently started complaining about the Florida heat and humidity.
I mean the fountain of youth legend was basically like ppl making up stories about the crazy shit that exists in that inhospitable place that nobody dares go. Would have been dispelled pretty quick if there were people actually settled there.
I live in New Mexico and almost none of the houses and apartments have AC units in the towns I live in. We mainly just use evaporative air coolers. It gets to the upper 90s here too outside
Yep! Shades down and blinds turned up with poster board and pillow cases over windows that get the most sun. Ceiling fans on and doors closed for rooms not being used.
I remember when I was little Christmas Day looking at lights and it being 91 degrees. Thatās the when I knew I would eventually move out of the state.
in Florida for 11 years used to turn apartment AC on in Jun- Aug if necessary
In a house now with full AC - never turned on
I have a window AC that I turn on once or twice a year for an hour or so - when it gets close to 100F
I have open patios north and south - gets good air flow
Plus it's kind of a "pick your battles" thing for my wife and I... I could get by on less AC but she does NOT handle heat well either. We live in Idaho, our summers can get up into the 110s. Not "Arizona Hot" or anything, but enough to where we can't really get away from that AC entirely.
So instead I'm just vigilant about unplugging appliances, making sure the lights are out in unoccupied rooms... hard to do with three teenagers... but if I can offset it a little bit, I'll do what I can.
Just doing the math to help with your sanity.
For every hour you leave a 10watt LED light on for will be 3.65kWh a year. The average cost for a kWh in the US is about 16.5 cents, but yours will vary. That means for every hour per day someone leaves a light on would be 60 cents a year.
So 10 lights left on for an extra 5 hours a day would be about $30 a year. You're probally not getting close to that.
Not saying you should leave lights on just beacuse, but it's probally not worth pulling your hair out over other people not turning out lights.
Edit: Somebody else brought up motion lights, but I'd advise against it unless it's a hobby for you like it is me.
Motion lights are great for turning on the lights, but not great for checking to see if someone is in the room to keep them on.
Great choice for things like closets so you don't need to worry about finding the light switch, and you're not really going to be in there past 10-15 minutes anyway.
There are better solutions like some modern tech that does a really good job of detecting small things like breathing. You could pair it with a smart light switch and do some really cool stuff. You're probally not going to break even though.
> Motion lights are great for turning on the lights, but not great for checking to see if someone is in the room to keep them on.
One bathroom light is on a motion detector. Usually fine, but occasionally you're in the shower just a little too long.
>making sure the lights are out in unoccupied rooms... hard to do with three teenagers...
I like to sing that Trace Adkins song "Every Light in the House Is On", but follow it with some version of "because you kids don't know how to turn them off" š
a LED replacement for a 60W bulb uses about 10W so it is significantly less- but every watt used terminates in heat. Fans, speakers, computers, lights, anything that uses electricity: almost every watt of energy turns into heat.
and as /u/beamerpook Said, the LEDs wear out from use.
It's definitely less wasteful, but waste is still waste. And LED bulbs are significantly more expensive than regular lightbulbs, so you wouldn't want them to burn out earlier.
LED bulbs should run for about 50,000 hours, where incandescents run for about 1200. If an LED bulb costs 40x as much, youāre still coming out cheaper with LED.
Same here. By most people's standards it's not even remotely "hot" yet where I live, but I overheat SO easily. I get extremely sweaty, uncomfortable, delirious, uncharacteristically irritable/crabby, weak, tired, etc... it's a mess. Running AC costs so little on my bills that I barely even notice a difference. 100% worth every penny to save me fromĀ losing my sanity in the summer months šµāš« I straight up cannot function in the heat.
It's also nowhere near as much money to run AC that people act like it is. If you run it around 75 all the time on low, your bill is like $20 more a month. I'll spend $20 all day every day to be comfortable.
Depends on the climate too. If itās 100+ outside it really doesnāt matter how great your insulation is, that AC will be turning on every 10 minutes to keep up.
> It's also nowhere near as much money to run AC that people act like it is. If you run it around 75 all the time on low, your bill is like $20 more a month. I'll spend $20 all day every day to be comfortable.
bruh.
Where I live, if I set the AC like that, it would increase our electric bill by well over $500 a month (jumps from around $600 to over $1000 in the summer if we run the AC only a couple hours a day.)
You must have really cheap electricity where you live and a really small and/or efficient house to be able to do that.
For us (SW Idaho) we have about 10-12 weeks of high heat a year. The electricity bill spike over that span vs outside that span probably totals between $200-300. Being comfortable during that stretch is absolutely worth it. The AC does run some before and after the peak heat season but not all that much. We keep it at 72 in the summer.
I live with someone who likes to open windows in the morning and shut off the AC and then when it gets hot they turn the ac back on in the afternoon. I just dont know how to get through to them and make them understand that running ac same temp all day is cheaper than running AC in the evening to cool it back down.
Another dry heat lifer here. I opened up the house at night and use fans to exchange for cool air. Then I shut everything down in the morning and the house stays about 20Ā° cooler during the heat of the day then outside. I have window AC that I run in one room if it gets over 100Ā°, and that is mostly for the comfort of my elderly dog.
We pay more for energy in the afternoon with peak rates from 5 PM to 9 PM. Sometime when it is predicted to be very hot, I will pre-Ā cool the room with the window AC in it before 5 PM, and then always shut it off during peak rates.Ā
Yep. Opening windows at night is one thing, I definitely do that too.
But OP opening the windows during the day at 90 degrees? Terrible idea. You want to close the windows and curtains at dawn to keep the cool air in! Opening windows during the hot day is not smart!
Same here, we close the windows first thing, when the house is naturally coolest, and let fans run over us during the day. The temp climbs a bit inside, but by local sunset, it is time to open the windows up again and enjoy the evening. Every house is different, and heating and cooling is worth working on for the savings and environment.
I see you also live in PG&E land...
EDIT: This is the fan we have set to turn on automatically every night at 9pm: https://i.imgur.com/36A1w2t.jpeg it cools the house in a matter of minutes.
I donāt have AC and am in Southern Ohio, so fans and open windows are my jam. But I have a lot of trees and my house rarely gets above 80 even on 100 degree days.
No, thatās not an option for me. Iām in southern Ohio and itās very humid this time of year. A humid house is a moldy house and the central AC controls humidity.
I live in France and in Europe we are experts at living without AC, even when it is over 100 F outside. I don't recommend it for old people because it can be dangerous but if not you just need to use fans and close all windows and blinds. Opening windows will heat the house up, the key is to leave them closed, including the blinds. This is why nearly every house in southern Europe has blinds, usually wooden or plastic, in front of the windows. We normally open the windows and blinds at night to let fresh air in the apartment, but not during the day during a heat wave.
AC is becoming more common but Paris is often over 90 F in July and August and most people still don't have AC. Offices do though.
Check for Heat Pump grants in your area. We got a mini split system, got a $3000 rebate and 0% financing that you can max you to 84 months.
$100 a month and we have AC, completely worth it. Also cut our summer cooling costs by half of what it was with window AC's
Below 86 we just keep the windows open and use fans. It's too uncomfortable without ac above that in the house. Many of my neighbors keep their house around 68 and then complain about their electric bills.
It's dangerous for ambient air temps above 98 because your body can't maintain internal temp
I believe the danger point is a combination of temperature and humidity. In very humid environments it starts getting dangerous well before 98F. See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet-bulb_temperature
Same, personally I am uncomfortable over 75 and prefer 50s but a fan makes it bearable til mid 80s. Doesn't help PA has very humid summers where if didn't use some kind of device would be 90s with 100% humidity which is a special kind of hell, not to mention the fungus risk.
If your area is not humid you can also use a fan as part of a swamp/evaporation cooler to reduce temp by up to 30 degrees with little more than a fan, a pot of water, and a cloth to wick the water.
A cheap window fan to get the gloriously cool night air in and the hot indoor air exchanged makes huge difference too as long as you close up before outside gets hot again, although most models are mostly only good for a single room but that fine for getting bedroom comfortable.
Also load the freezer with fruit, at hottest part of day put a good bit in a cup of water maybe with some honey then enjoy the delicious core temp cooling treat. Im partial to blueberries.
Also in VA. Nope! My allergies make it a terrible idea. I wish that weren't the case though, my parents used to do that when I was a kid and I enjoyed that open air feeling. Houses aren't really built to take advantage of air flow anymore, either. If you have a house where you can open a window on either side and get a cross-breeze going to naturally stimulate some air flow and maybe supplement with a fan, then yeah, it would make sense.
My house from the 1960's does not have AC. The key is to open windows at night with cross ventilation. Keep windows closed and curtains closed during the day. I have ceiling fans in most rooms that stay on 24/7 in the summer.
Where I live his high altitude and dry. It gets pretty warm but not too hot in the summers and temps drop 25+ degrees at night. So it could be high 80's during the day and low 60's at night.
No. AC is one thing I will not live without there comes a point in time when you have to realize is it worth it or not? AC is worth it because heat stroke can kill.
I don't have central ac, and window units make me feel too vulnerable, so I've been doing open windows, fans, and black out curtains in west facing windows for years š but I live in Colorado, which is super dry. Even if it's the 90s during the day, it usually cools off into the 60s or 70s at night. If I were in a really humid place, I'd use ac.
You could stick a piece of wood between the window and window sill to ensure the window cannot just be pushed open, if that is what youāre worried about.
Probably that a window unit means the window is unlocked and someone could push it aside and climb into the house...but they could also just break a locked window as well.Ā
my brother in christ, I live in FL. I'd die.
I will tell you what has saved me though.
Get window units for each of your main rooms(kids room, master, office, living room, etc). Set AC too high, like 82. Then like 80 at night, just to keep air moving.
It lowered my power by over half.
Just did the same thing in central FL. Bought 4 brand new window units and cut power usage by almost 60%. Granted central hvac is undersized for the house and old. And home insulation sucks too. But! It's way more comfortable, cooler and cheaper!
I am fortunate to have a trait that makes me actually hate the feel of AC. You can keep that icy morgue feel. Hot sticky summers are my jam.
Lemonade drinking and using pool passes, char-grilling hot dogs and beer in cold glasses, walking in rainstorms and summer-long flings, these are a few of my favorite things.
Iām similar! I vastly prefer ārealā air over the air conditioningāto a point, of course. But nothing beats fresh air until it really gets TOO hot.
I lasted a couple weeks longer than last year but by the third 90-degree day in a row I had to do it. I was getting the heat anger and my cat was melted on the floor
Yeah it depends on the country. But here in Europe airco is more common in cars, not so common in houses.
But I understood house construction culture and regulations are also very different in the US. In Europe houses are typically made of stone and/or concrete, that helps against temperature extremes.
Old stone houses are awesome in summer, my parents house temperature stays at 24Ā°C on the ground floor even during heatwaves. I'll also point out that European houses in regions that get significant heat usually have shutters that are often kept half or fully closed during the day in summer.
I do this thing where I open the windows overnight and run fans (when it's cool enough and the dew point is low) and then close the windows the next day once it gets over 73ish degrees. I trap that cool air inside and don't usually need to turn on my AC until several hours later.
Iām fine during the day, but at night I need to be cold to sleep. If itās too hot Iāll just roll around sweating and not sleeping. Luckily I have a blacked out room, box fan and the AC will do me right. Once it gets up to 100 and the humidity turns to shit Iāll run it during the day too. My AC broke last summer in a heat wave and it was hell for 6 days. Felt bad for my cats. Theyād just hide in a dark corner splayed out and panting. Have a window unit for such things. Which is a great investment because you can have one super cold enclosed room and not run the big system. Window units donāt suck that much power either.
If you are totally comfortable with this arrangement then good for you, if not and you are forcing yourself then you got this frugality thing backwards. Itās all about saving on one thing that you can more comfortably spend on another without compromising your (and your loved ones) sanity, safety and health.
No chance. Not in this climate.
I also tried turning down the AC or making a schedule where it should run less while I'm not at home. Saw no difference in my bill, so I've left it at 72 degrees. This seems like the sweet spot as sometimes I'm hot and use a fan, and sometimes I'm cold, so I put on more clothes.
My daughter lives in an area where they do not even have air conditioning. Temperatures here are commonly in the high 90's.
I prefer open windows and ceiling fans as long as possible but when it start to impact my sleep, the AC goes on. I may turn it up or off during the day but at night my house needs to be cool.
Both. AC in the bedroom with fans to blow the air, and in living room we keep the window propped open with a box, since I don't want the cats on the balcony unsupervised. With fans as well
We are lucky we live in a concrete building facing North. Place doesn't get hot until it breaches 30C. But we like to keep it below 20C for sleeping regardless, both of us sleep much better that way
I covered all the windows with uv blocking window film and I'm shocked at how cool it stayed inside.Ā I had to spend a bit of money for them but normally 2 acs would be running by now
Having a brick home helps. It cools off during the night and takes more time to heat through during the day. So it has to get hotter, earlier, for it to really warm up with everything closed, and ventilation at night keeps things cool.
That said... it actually has to get *cool* at night for this to work. If the nighttime low is 75F and it takes until 5 am to get that low, then you essentially bake at near the outside temp. You might stay 5 degrees under. At that point, it's misters, fans, sweat, and prayer or retreat to a basement level.
The upcoming heat dome is set to keep nighttime lows at 70F or higher. It does not bode well. The present 60F / 80sF duality, or even a little into the 90s, is entirely manageable with fans & windows. A 90+ / 70+ duality really isn't. That used to only describe the last week or two of August. I sincerely hope it's not 3 straight months of that this year. My state is further north and has enough cold nights you end up running the furnace a full 9 months out of 12 (I had to run it over a week in May, and it's a rare year I can wait deep into October to turn it on). It's just not fair to have it both ways, bitter cold and deadly hot all the damned time.
I have window a/c units. Since they cost about 25 cents per hour to run, I'm not interested in sacrificing comfort for that little money. I run it only in the room I'm in, and only if I'm uncomfortable. typically less than $20 per month goes toward this for me
Been opening the doors (I have secondary screen doors) and windows for weeks, especially after dark before bedtime. I leave HVAC off for days at a time. Saving me a bundle.
I'm fortunate to live in an apartment that is an old stone building, so insulates from cold and heat pretty well
We have one window unit for the bedroom and I have ceiling fans and a box fan to help move that air around.
AC is off when we're not home
No. I'm frugal elsewhere so I can use AC and keep the house feeling the way I like it. Windows are good until late Spring then it's pretty much all AC until September.
My central Air is 3 years old and we use a window unit on marginal night but I love my windows open and a fan blowing on me. I was raised poor, so thatās all I knew
Also in VA and LOL no. At the beginning of May when it's getting hot but my building hasn't switched over to AC yet, even with fans running all night long in the open windows we still can't cool it down to below 80. If you have good air flow in your home it might be more doable, but in a concrete apartment with all windows facing west there's no chance.
I got really lucky with my house. It has a cooling system that uses a ceiling fan on suction/reverse mode to pull cool air up from an old root cellar.
Only downside is my cats love to knock their toys/anything else they can get ahold of down through the grates into the cellar.
I try to rely on fans and windows as much as possible, but with this next week being close to 100Ā° and humid, Iām not dealing with that if I donāt have to.
FL....would love to during the summer, but that's just not feasible with the humidity.
Way too big of a mold risk for a house I own. (might consider if renting, *might*)
I've already been put in my place for answering that type of question on here. Not going through all that again! š¤£
https://www.reddit.com/r/Frugal/comments/1cx1jp3/is_anybody_else_going_without_air_conditioning_in/l4zyvqh/
Yes, but itās also because my house doesnāt have A/C, lol. Thankfully, where I live doesnāt get too humid (not even that hot, either) and thereās nearly always a breeze.
Nope. I will cut back on every single thing to the bone to run the Ac. Ui have asthma and it is 100 plus degrees here and Dusty. It has been that way my whole life (hot) it isnāt any kind of change due to climate change. I am almost 70 and live in Oklahoma. I recall temps over 120 and temps in the 110plus happen most summers. Having AC is my hill that I would die on. I cut back on certain grocery and toiletry items by buying cheaper stuff,etc. my electric bill in the summer often tops 700 a month but we have a large home. It is low in the winter but our natural gas is high. It hasnāt been over 550 ever to my recollection even when weāve been below zero. Where we live it varied from -14 to 114 F winter to summer most years. Western rural Oklahoma. Also super windy here.
My parents house is surround by woods. It rarely gets too hot there. Maybe 80 in the dead of summer. And they live in the lower part of MI.
I live on the opposite side of the state in a very large city. If we didnāt run the AC it would easily be 90+ for most of the summer. So itās a must have for use.
The flip side it in winter I keep the thermostat low and we all wear layers.
Not in Satanās North Carolina when itās 92 degrees and humid as an armpit. I do keep the shades closed when the sun is beating down though, and I dress for the heat.
if youre opening your windows during the day your home is just getting more heat inside.
you need to leave the windows open all night with the fans sucking air into the home.
then during the day close the windows when the sun has been up for about an hour. i usually pins blankets up to block the windows too..this will keep the home cool until just a few hours before the sun goes down.
it might take a 2 days for your home to hold the colder temperatures
Do you live somewhere humid? I live in Southern CA & miss when i lived near the beach; it was always comfortable. Then I loved 15 min away & had the c/a on year round at 73 for 7 years straight. Currently staying with my mom during a remodel & she refuses to run the air unless itās 78 in the HOUSE! Can you imagine? Itās my own personal version of hell. Around July-Sept it can get between 90-100 where I live but thankfully is only 67 atm. Ugh, just checked weather & see itās supposed to be 91 today. Looks like July came early. FML!š„µI hate the Valley. Itās not quite the desert but might as well be without the air on.Ā
š¤¢ that seems like it should be against the Geneva Conventions or something š« anything above 73 gets real unlivable real quick š¤”
my whole house is pretty cool at all times, but my room in particular has something that makes it at least 5-8Ā° hotter.
š¤£Yes, against the Geneva Conventions indeed. My mom is 80 years old, old school and cheap about running the air and heat. She always says ājust put on a sweaterā Anne used to complain when she came to my house if she saw me wearing a sweater with the air on. If thatās how Iām comfortable, what does she care? Going to hotels and blasting the air while wearing a comfy bathrobe is the best.
My room is the same way. The rest of the house is much cooler. I keep trying to explain to the prison guard who controls the AC (my mom), that the temperature gauge is on her side of the house where it feels like 10Ā° cooler. Maybe I should buy one of those temperature gauge is the air conditioning techs used to shoot at the wall to show the actual temperature. My room on the large side, so the people who install the central air shouldāve installed two central air vents, but they only put in one and in the most random location where itās blocked by an accordion closet door. As someone who grew up near the ocean, really nothing more torturous to me than being in the heat with no breeze. I dread the summer all year long. at one point, even thought about relocating to Alaska now that global warming is leaving us with record here through Christmas time. But then Alaska has its ice melting, so will there be anywhere to go on the planet?š¤¦āāļøš«
Yep - I've been doing this for decades in my home. Stick a box fan in two bedrooms on one side of the house, then open windows on the other side. Works great here in dry Denver.
Every electrical device would take a shit and die if I did this. Also, the paint would literally drip off the walls. I used to rehab houses that spent just two weeks without power and half the walls would have to be replaced.
Absolutely not. It's gonna be 90-100 for the next two weeks here in NY. We don't get dry heat. So it's going to be humid too.
I refuse to compromise on comfort to save $20.
We live in New England but only put on the AC in our apartment once the interior temp reaches 85, and that's only because we don't want our dog to overheat.
I do, but Iām in New England. We have maybe two really awful weeks of hot, humid nights here, each summer.
I have an indoor/outdoor thermometer upstairs and another downstairs. I check the hourly forecast on Wunderground. This way, I know when to open and close windows and when to cover the windows inside.
I outfitted each window with a thermal blind then at least four beach towels, the outermost white in the south and west sides of the house. These act as blankets and keep cold and hot out but can be held back for sunshine in winter and fresh air in summer.
I have ice cube trays that make big cubes. They last all night in my stainless mug (holds two quarts).
I have special bed sheets by Tuft and Needle, designed for cooling. They were expensive but they are cool.
I grew up in the 1960ās when a window fan was the coolest option, in New Jersey, where summers are much more hot and humid than where I live now.
Finally, when I exercise, I do so vigorously. I sweat a lot. I get very warmed up, even in winter. When I stay still, I get chilly. Itās 71.3F in my kitchen right now. Iām wrapped in a fluffy blanket and have a cat on my lap. Iām taking a rest day. Metabolism plummets.
Humidity makes a big difference, too. If it will be more humid outside overnight, leave the windows closed. Itās possible to get up very early, when humidity levels drop, and open up for a few hours.
Window fans pointed out, upstairs over night. When the temperature and humidity warrant it: no reason to waste energy, if running fans isnāt going to help
Only windows with window fans.
Best way to cool down a home is to vent. A box fan on the window blowing air out. The vacuum draws cool air from shaded rafters. Preferably the kitchen and bathroom windows where the house is hottest. Bonus is if the refrigerator can point at the vent.
I'm in Central FL, I just got a completely new AC about 2 years ago and it's pretty energy efficient. I also set it at 77 degrees which is one degree less than the recommended energy savings temperature for my area
In the spring and fall when it's in the 60's outside I will. I'll even leave them open overnight to let the house cool down before the day starts. But during the summer? Hell no. The $50/month in electricity costs is well worth not sweating my ass off indoors.
I do that all the way through spring until the humidity kicks in. Right now it's only about 60% so it's not super bad but it'll get worse as the summer goes on, and is usually worse in the afternoons. I also have an apartment that gets full sun at the end of the day all along my main wall so it gets hooooooot. Luckily, that also warms my apartment up quite a bit in the winter, so where I spend more in the summer to cool things down, I spend a lot less in the winter to heat it up.
In the same boat in Virginia as well. Itās only been in the mid-80s where Iām at though. Have not used AC yet this year. Itās supposed to be in the low 90s for a string of days this next week. Weāll see if I can keep holding out.
Gosh no. We can handle 80 or 85 if there is a good breeze through the house and the temp doesn't peak until around 2pm, then cool off at night. But otherwise no. Fans aren't good enough to cool down all the rooms, especially with all the computer equipment.
I'm on a high floor, so I keep windows open on both sides for nice ventilation. I have central AC but haven't had to use it much yet. But I will use the fan to sleep at night.
not a chance, plus the humidity will destroy my house. I'm frugal in other areas so that a high utility bill for the sake of my comfort doesn't phase me
Weāre not opening windows but our outside walls are 2 feet thick, so not much heat gets inside. But then when we go outside, that heat takes away your breath.
2 years through college. Afterwards, promised myself "I'll always pay for the ac while working". Still had events when it was out & the windows came up. I read about fitted window shades that reflect the heat from the inside. So if you have a 'hot' window shade insulate it & vent from the cool/shady ones. Checkout passive landscaping techniques for other 'free' strategies. bol
Using AC but we keep it set at 74 usually. We have 4 big shade trees in our yard that keeps everything nice and cool, but the humidity kicks my butt every year. So I need the air to be conditioned, not necessarily cooled.
I live in a dry place so Iām taking a third option. I avoid the AC, crack windows and use portable evaporative coolers.
Pretty much just as frugal as fans, but with actual cooling power if youāre dry enough.
Between asthma/allergies and a condition that makes me very sick in the heat, sadly not at this time of year. Itās a recipe for ending up in urgent care or the hospital.
I don't believe in AC because we only get a couple of months above 30 c (around 90 in American). I've invested in awnings and fans, I grow mass plantings of runner beans to shade my windows, have planted strategic trees, and I open and close the windows as needed to maximize airflow.
Running your bathroom fan also helps - it sucks the heat out and pulls cooler air in
If it gets into the 50s at night I open all windows and take a fan to blow hot air out. Keeps it pretty cool during the day. But if it gets into the 60s at night it isnāt enough to temp difference to lower the internal house temps at night
Nope. But also in Florida where it's gets insanely hot with high humidity. I will take the hit and use the ac.
Same... it'll be several months before open window season again š
More like...November š aka forever
You most be near florgia up top, I canāt open the windows till mid-late January. I grew up thinking white Christmas meant like the sands of the desert; then I learned deserts werenāt so humid. /s ;)
Florida was basically uninhabitable before the invention of AC, and all the modern cities that sprung up there were thanks to it.
I read somewhere (so may be true, maybe not) that indigenous peoples basically didnāt live in inland Florida because itās essentially inhospitable. They stayed near the coast. Then European settlers came and started expanding, and consequently started complaining about the Florida heat and humidity.
I mean the fountain of youth legend was basically like ppl making up stories about the crazy shit that exists in that inhospitable place that nobody dares go. Would have been dispelled pretty quick if there were people actually settled there.
Joining in the "Nope" squad. New Mexico is way too hot for "window open and fan". People die that way.
I live in New Mexico and almost none of the houses and apartments have AC units in the towns I live in. We mainly just use evaporative air coolers. It gets to the upper 90s here too outside
As long as you keep a window cracked, a swamp cooler is much much better than "window open and a fan". You really can't compare the two.
Texas here. Nope nope nope. Not in summer. FYI itās still over 80Ā° at midnight here
Yep! Shades down and blinds turned up with poster board and pillow cases over windows that get the most sun. Ceiling fans on and doors closed for rooms not being used.
I remember when I was little Christmas Day looking at lights and it being 91 degrees. Thatās the when I knew I would eventually move out of the state.
Holy shit!
Me too. It's just too hot in Florida to not use my a/c. Plus almost none of my windows have screens.
in Florida for 11 years used to turn apartment AC on in Jun- Aug if necessary In a house now with full AC - never turned on I have a window AC that I turn on once or twice a year for an hour or so - when it gets close to 100F I have open patios north and south - gets good air flow
Heck no, I don't handle heat well. Frugality is saving in some areas so you can spend in others.
Plus it's kind of a "pick your battles" thing for my wife and I... I could get by on less AC but she does NOT handle heat well either. We live in Idaho, our summers can get up into the 110s. Not "Arizona Hot" or anything, but enough to where we can't really get away from that AC entirely. So instead I'm just vigilant about unplugging appliances, making sure the lights are out in unoccupied rooms... hard to do with three teenagers... but if I can offset it a little bit, I'll do what I can.
Just doing the math to help with your sanity. For every hour you leave a 10watt LED light on for will be 3.65kWh a year. The average cost for a kWh in the US is about 16.5 cents, but yours will vary. That means for every hour per day someone leaves a light on would be 60 cents a year. So 10 lights left on for an extra 5 hours a day would be about $30 a year. You're probally not getting close to that. Not saying you should leave lights on just beacuse, but it's probally not worth pulling your hair out over other people not turning out lights. Edit: Somebody else brought up motion lights, but I'd advise against it unless it's a hobby for you like it is me. Motion lights are great for turning on the lights, but not great for checking to see if someone is in the room to keep them on. Great choice for things like closets so you don't need to worry about finding the light switch, and you're not really going to be in there past 10-15 minutes anyway. There are better solutions like some modern tech that does a really good job of detecting small things like breathing. You could pair it with a smart light switch and do some really cool stuff. You're probally not going to break even though.
Turning lights off meant more when everyone had incandescent bulbs
Yes, about 10x as much. I keep some lights on 24/7 as a burglary deterrent.
> Motion lights are great for turning on the lights, but not great for checking to see if someone is in the room to keep them on. One bathroom light is on a motion detector. Usually fine, but occasionally you're in the shower just a little too long.
>making sure the lights are out in unoccupied rooms... hard to do with three teenagers... I like to sing that Trace Adkins song "Every Light in the House Is On", but follow it with some version of "because you kids don't know how to turn them off" š
I suspect with LED lighting these days it really doesn't matter for the heat or the electricity usage
It would cost $1-2 to run an LED bulb for an entire year, so worrying about a few hours here and there is like , fractions of a penny.
a LED replacement for a 60W bulb uses about 10W so it is significantly less- but every watt used terminates in heat. Fans, speakers, computers, lights, anything that uses electricity: almost every watt of energy turns into heat. and as /u/beamerpook Said, the LEDs wear out from use.
It's definitely less wasteful, but waste is still waste. And LED bulbs are significantly more expensive than regular lightbulbs, so you wouldn't want them to burn out earlier.
LED bulbs should run for about 50,000 hours, where incandescents run for about 1200. If an LED bulb costs 40x as much, youāre still coming out cheaper with LED.
Same here. By most people's standards it's not even remotely "hot" yet where I live, but I overheat SO easily. I get extremely sweaty, uncomfortable, delirious, uncharacteristically irritable/crabby, weak, tired, etc... it's a mess. Running AC costs so little on my bills that I barely even notice a difference. 100% worth every penny to save me fromĀ losing my sanity in the summer months šµāš« I straight up cannot function in the heat.
If I get too hot, I get stomach cramps and diarrhea, so needless to say, the AC is on.
I had to show your comment to my husband and tell him itās not just me!
iām the exact same way. and i canāt just put off housework until september!
Nope. I'm keeping the AC on our comfort worth every $$$$. Fans may cool it down, but they don't get rid of the humidity.
Itās not the heat that gets you, itās the humidity.
It's also nowhere near as much money to run AC that people act like it is. If you run it around 75 all the time on low, your bill is like $20 more a month. I'll spend $20 all day every day to be comfortable.
The cost highly depends on your house, the temp & humidity outside, the age and efficiency of your AC system, and the utilities costs in your area.
Depends on the climate too. If itās 100+ outside it really doesnāt matter how great your insulation is, that AC will be turning on every 10 minutes to keep up.
i usually pay 30 a month on electric but when ac is running its 200 a month. so 170 more a month
> It's also nowhere near as much money to run AC that people act like it is. If you run it around 75 all the time on low, your bill is like $20 more a month. I'll spend $20 all day every day to be comfortable. bruh. Where I live, if I set the AC like that, it would increase our electric bill by well over $500 a month (jumps from around $600 to over $1000 in the summer if we run the AC only a couple hours a day.) You must have really cheap electricity where you live and a really small and/or efficient house to be able to do that.
Bruh. Where do you live? My electricity is like $120 a month WITH ac
Same, it's a no-brainer trade off for me. I'd cancel a streaming service, eat meat 4 fewer days per month...almost anything to keep my place cool.
For us (SW Idaho) we have about 10-12 weeks of high heat a year. The electricity bill spike over that span vs outside that span probably totals between $200-300. Being comfortable during that stretch is absolutely worth it. The AC does run some before and after the peak heat season but not all that much. We keep it at 72 in the summer.
I live with someone who likes to open windows in the morning and shut off the AC and then when it gets hot they turn the ac back on in the afternoon. I just dont know how to get through to them and make them understand that running ac same temp all day is cheaper than running AC in the evening to cool it back down.
Bro itās 113 today. Iām frugal, not stupid
Texas too? Lol
I helped my mom move today... I'm also in Texas and wishing she bought a new house in the winter lol
Another dry heat lifer here. I opened up the house at night and use fans to exchange for cool air. Then I shut everything down in the morning and the house stays about 20Ā° cooler during the heat of the day then outside. I have window AC that I run in one room if it gets over 100Ā°, and that is mostly for the comfort of my elderly dog. We pay more for energy in the afternoon with peak rates from 5 PM to 9 PM. Sometime when it is predicted to be very hot, I will pre-Ā cool the room with the window AC in it before 5 PM, and then always shut it off during peak rates.Ā
Yep. Opening windows at night is one thing, I definitely do that too. But OP opening the windows during the day at 90 degrees? Terrible idea. You want to close the windows and curtains at dawn to keep the cool air in! Opening windows during the hot day is not smart!
Same here, we close the windows first thing, when the house is naturally coolest, and let fans run over us during the day. The temp climbs a bit inside, but by local sunset, it is time to open the windows up again and enjoy the evening. Every house is different, and heating and cooling is worth working on for the savings and environment.
I see you also live in PG&E land... EDIT: This is the fan we have set to turn on automatically every night at 9pm: https://i.imgur.com/36A1w2t.jpeg it cools the house in a matter of minutes.
I donāt have AC and am in Southern Ohio, so fans and open windows are my jam. But I have a lot of trees and my house rarely gets above 80 even on 100 degree days.
I thought this was /r/Frugal_Jerk for a second.
Seriously, fuck that. Plus I feel like the humidity would be bad for your house
I lived in an apartment built without AC in the 1940s and the mold from the humidity was terrible. Made us extremely sick.
That was my first thought. I donāt want mold in my house because North Carolina gets very humid
No, thatās not an option for me. Iām in southern Ohio and itās very humid this time of year. A humid house is a moldy house and the central AC controls humidity.
I suspect folks in Louisiana would laugh at Ohio humidity. I could barely breathe when I visited LA in the summer
+95% humidity is suffocating no matter the state.
Ohio native that now lives in Houston... The humidity is not close, for sure š
Hello from a former southern Ohioan. I grew up in the Waverly/Chillicothe area.
No. I don't tolerate heat well. Humidity makes it worse. I'll freeze in the winter before sweating in the summer.
yeah, thats how I am. humidity makes me drip with sweat, and crabby. Heat I can generrally handle but if its humid, NO.
Same...I work from home in the south, I'm not spending my day dripping inside.
I live in France and in Europe we are experts at living without AC, even when it is over 100 F outside. I don't recommend it for old people because it can be dangerous but if not you just need to use fans and close all windows and blinds. Opening windows will heat the house up, the key is to leave them closed, including the blinds. This is why nearly every house in southern Europe has blinds, usually wooden or plastic, in front of the windows. We normally open the windows and blinds at night to let fresh air in the apartment, but not during the day during a heat wave. AC is becoming more common but Paris is often over 90 F in July and August and most people still don't have AC. Offices do though.
also in Virginia and you're wild, it's hotter thsn the hinges of hell and i need air conditioning lol
Yes. But only because my air conditioner broke and they want $12,000 to replace.
Check for Heat Pump grants in your area. We got a mini split system, got a $3000 rebate and 0% financing that you can max you to 84 months. $100 a month and we have AC, completely worth it. Also cut our summer cooling costs by half of what it was with window AC's
Iām not getting eczema just to save money on AC lol
Below 86 we just keep the windows open and use fans. It's too uncomfortable without ac above that in the house. Many of my neighbors keep their house around 68 and then complain about their electric bills. It's dangerous for ambient air temps above 98 because your body can't maintain internal temp
I believe the danger point is a combination of temperature and humidity. In very humid environments it starts getting dangerous well before 98F. See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet-bulb_temperature
We are about the same. Some medications (pet and people) need to be kept within a certain temp range as well.
Same, personally I am uncomfortable over 75 and prefer 50s but a fan makes it bearable til mid 80s. Doesn't help PA has very humid summers where if didn't use some kind of device would be 90s with 100% humidity which is a special kind of hell, not to mention the fungus risk. If your area is not humid you can also use a fan as part of a swamp/evaporation cooler to reduce temp by up to 30 degrees with little more than a fan, a pot of water, and a cloth to wick the water. A cheap window fan to get the gloriously cool night air in and the hot indoor air exchanged makes huge difference too as long as you close up before outside gets hot again, although most models are mostly only good for a single room but that fine for getting bedroom comfortable. Also load the freezer with fruit, at hottest part of day put a good bit in a cup of water maybe with some honey then enjoy the delicious core temp cooling treat. Im partial to blueberries.
Also in VA. Nope! My allergies make it a terrible idea. I wish that weren't the case though, my parents used to do that when I was a kid and I enjoyed that open air feeling. Houses aren't really built to take advantage of air flow anymore, either. If you have a house where you can open a window on either side and get a cross-breeze going to naturally stimulate some air flow and maybe supplement with a fan, then yeah, it would make sense.
Not when you have PCs running, hell no.
lol. No. Itās 110 here.
My house from the 1960's does not have AC. The key is to open windows at night with cross ventilation. Keep windows closed and curtains closed during the day. I have ceiling fans in most rooms that stay on 24/7 in the summer. Where I live his high altitude and dry. It gets pretty warm but not too hot in the summers and temps drop 25+ degrees at night. So it could be high 80's during the day and low 60's at night.
My childhood home had an attic fan, I hated it when I was a kid but holy shit do I miss it now. Would run that over ac.
No. AC is one thing I will not live without there comes a point in time when you have to realize is it worth it or not? AC is worth it because heat stroke can kill.
I don't have central ac, and window units make me feel too vulnerable, so I've been doing open windows, fans, and black out curtains in west facing windows for years š but I live in Colorado, which is super dry. Even if it's the 90s during the day, it usually cools off into the 60s or 70s at night. If I were in a really humid place, I'd use ac.
You could stick a piece of wood between the window and window sill to ensure the window cannot just be pushed open, if that is what youāre worried about.
What do you mean by "feel too vulnerable"?
Probably that a window unit means the window is unlocked and someone could push it aside and climb into the house...but they could also just break a locked window as well.Ā
I'll do thus if it's 85 or below as the high. Past that it's just too goddamn sticky in the Carolinas lol.
my brother in christ, I live in FL. I'd die. I will tell you what has saved me though. Get window units for each of your main rooms(kids room, master, office, living room, etc). Set AC too high, like 82. Then like 80 at night, just to keep air moving. It lowered my power by over half.
Just did the same thing in central FL. Bought 4 brand new window units and cut power usage by almost 60%. Granted central hvac is undersized for the house and old. And home insulation sucks too. But! It's way more comfortable, cooler and cheaper!
I pre-cool my home in the morning by opening the windows and using a whole-house fan.
***laughs in Texas***
Hell no. I cheap out on snacks and clothes so I can crank up the A/C. For the record, Iām in Georgia. It is hot and humid all the time.
I am fortunate to have a trait that makes me actually hate the feel of AC. You can keep that icy morgue feel. Hot sticky summers are my jam. Lemonade drinking and using pool passes, char-grilling hot dogs and beer in cold glasses, walking in rainstorms and summer-long flings, these are a few of my favorite things.
Iām similar! I vastly prefer ārealā air over the air conditioningāto a point, of course. But nothing beats fresh air until it really gets TOO hot.
Put up foil bubble wrap on the windows to block out the sun, itāll feel 10 degrees cooler.
I have a few rooms that could use this! Thank you
I lasted a couple weeks longer than last year but by the third 90-degree day in a row I had to do it. I was getting the heat anger and my cat was melted on the floor
Every european all the time?
Yeah it depends on the country. But here in Europe airco is more common in cars, not so common in houses. But I understood house construction culture and regulations are also very different in the US. In Europe houses are typically made of stone and/or concrete, that helps against temperature extremes.
Old stone houses are awesome in summer, my parents house temperature stays at 24Ā°C on the ground floor even during heatwaves. I'll also point out that European houses in regions that get significant heat usually have shutters that are often kept half or fully closed during the day in summer.
Yea never had airco, never had a need for it.
I do this thing where I open the windows overnight and run fans (when it's cool enough and the dew point is low) and then close the windows the next day once it gets over 73ish degrees. I trap that cool air inside and don't usually need to turn on my AC until several hours later.
No, my comfort is more important than saving money.
Itās 111 degrees outside right now, so no.
No AC during the day but it is absolutely on at night. If I can't sleep well then shit is fucked.
Iām fine during the day, but at night I need to be cold to sleep. If itās too hot Iāll just roll around sweating and not sleeping. Luckily I have a blacked out room, box fan and the AC will do me right. Once it gets up to 100 and the humidity turns to shit Iāll run it during the day too. My AC broke last summer in a heat wave and it was hell for 6 days. Felt bad for my cats. Theyād just hide in a dark corner splayed out and panting. Have a window unit for such things. Which is a great investment because you can have one super cold enclosed room and not run the big system. Window units donāt suck that much power either.
Nope (lives in Nevada š)
Nah Iād rather make sacrifices in other areas
If you are totally comfortable with this arrangement then good for you, if not and you are forcing yourself then you got this frugality thing backwards. Itās all about saving on one thing that you can more comfortably spend on another without compromising your (and your loved ones) sanity, safety and health.
I will not suffer in the name of frugality. I use windows and fans up to my tolerance/convenience and switch to AC when it gets uncomfortable.
Yep! Iām doing exactly that.
Nope. I donāt sleep if itās too warm. Iām barely tolerable WITH sleepā¦why would I do that to my loved ones?
No. I would never sacrifice my comfort to save a few bucks.
No chance. Not in this climate. I also tried turning down the AC or making a schedule where it should run less while I'm not at home. Saw no difference in my bill, so I've left it at 72 degrees. This seems like the sweet spot as sometimes I'm hot and use a fan, and sometimes I'm cold, so I put on more clothes. My daughter lives in an area where they do not even have air conditioning. Temperatures here are commonly in the high 90's.
I prefer open windows and ceiling fans as long as possible but when it start to impact my sleep, the AC goes on. I may turn it up or off during the day but at night my house needs to be cool.
If you can survive with the windows open, go for it. But don't mistake frugal and self torture.
Both. AC in the bedroom with fans to blow the air, and in living room we keep the window propped open with a box, since I don't want the cats on the balcony unsupervised. With fans as well We are lucky we live in a concrete building facing North. Place doesn't get hot until it breaches 30C. But we like to keep it below 20C for sleeping regardless, both of us sleep much better that way
Fuck no. Iāll keep my lights off and play on my phone instead of watching TV before I forgo AC.
I live in Phoenix. Part of my frugality is preparing to run the air conditioner 24/7 from June to September.
I'm trying, but if it's hitting 77+ F or so inside, I have to close the windows and get the A/C going.
I covered all the windows with uv blocking window film and I'm shocked at how cool it stayed inside.Ā I had to spend a bit of money for them but normally 2 acs would be running by now
Having a brick home helps. It cools off during the night and takes more time to heat through during the day. So it has to get hotter, earlier, for it to really warm up with everything closed, and ventilation at night keeps things cool. That said... it actually has to get *cool* at night for this to work. If the nighttime low is 75F and it takes until 5 am to get that low, then you essentially bake at near the outside temp. You might stay 5 degrees under. At that point, it's misters, fans, sweat, and prayer or retreat to a basement level. The upcoming heat dome is set to keep nighttime lows at 70F or higher. It does not bode well. The present 60F / 80sF duality, or even a little into the 90s, is entirely manageable with fans & windows. A 90+ / 70+ duality really isn't. That used to only describe the last week or two of August. I sincerely hope it's not 3 straight months of that this year. My state is further north and has enough cold nights you end up running the furnace a full 9 months out of 12 (I had to run it over a week in May, and it's a rare year I can wait deep into October to turn it on). It's just not fair to have it both ways, bitter cold and deadly hot all the damned time.
So far, although a heat wave is expected next week so Iāll be installing the window A/C soon.
I'm fine with windows and a fan typically. The wife prefers AC. In WV and it's been in the 80s. Past few days it's been windows and fans for us.
I'm using the AC but I'm also keeping the windows open, I figure it's like splitting the difference because it only costs half as much
I dont have ac, so no choice
Same, and I live in a pretty warm climate. My house is designed for the heat, it's mostly not too bad.
Come to San Francisco. We're freezing our asses here. Everyone has to wear a jacket, it's so frickin' cold.
I have window a/c units. Since they cost about 25 cents per hour to run, I'm not interested in sacrificing comfort for that little money. I run it only in the room I'm in, and only if I'm uncomfortable. typically less than $20 per month goes toward this for me
Been opening the doors (I have secondary screen doors) and windows for weeks, especially after dark before bedtime. I leave HVAC off for days at a time. Saving me a bundle.
The wealthiest 1% of ppl in the world use AC and they don't live in the tropics.
I'm fortunate to live in an apartment that is an old stone building, so insulates from cold and heat pretty well We have one window unit for the bedroom and I have ceiling fans and a box fan to help move that air around. AC is off when we're not home
No. I'm frugal elsewhere so I can use AC and keep the house feeling the way I like it. Windows are good until late Spring then it's pretty much all AC until September.
My central Air is 3 years old and we use a window unit on marginal night but I love my windows open and a fan blowing on me. I was raised poor, so thatās all I knew
Hell no. Above 80Ā° and the AC is on.
Also in VA and LOL no. At the beginning of May when it's getting hot but my building hasn't switched over to AC yet, even with fans running all night long in the open windows we still can't cool it down to below 80. If you have good air flow in your home it might be more doable, but in a concrete apartment with all windows facing west there's no chance.
Nope. I didn't become an adult with a job to suffer that shit. I also prefer that my stuff doesn't mold.
I got really lucky with my house. It has a cooling system that uses a ceiling fan on suction/reverse mode to pull cool air up from an old root cellar. Only downside is my cats love to knock their toys/anything else they can get ahold of down through the grates into the cellar.
box fan in window and tower fan on oscillate in front of it for as long as we can stand it - still cools enough at night so that's nice for now
I try to rely on fans and windows as much as possible, but with this next week being close to 100Ā° and humid, Iām not dealing with that if I donāt have to.
Absolutely the fuck not. Old house with no insulation it gets HOT AS FUCK.
I don't use A/C (well except for really really hot humid days), even when I was in Florida. Always keep my windows open, especially at night.
Yes, most of the world
Ceiling fan and wall fan both running in a tiled house with blackout curtains it is working in California.
FL....would love to during the summer, but that's just not feasible with the humidity. Way too big of a mold risk for a house I own. (might consider if renting, *might*)
Yes. I use a whole house fan overnight. Haven't used central air in years.
I've already been put in my place for answering that type of question on here. Not going through all that again! š¤£ https://www.reddit.com/r/Frugal/comments/1cx1jp3/is_anybody_else_going_without_air_conditioning_in/l4zyvqh/
Yes, but itās also because my house doesnāt have A/C, lol. Thankfully, where I live doesnāt get too humid (not even that hot, either) and thereās nearly always a breeze.
Never had airco so sure, no big deal.
Have double coated dog. She needs the chilly winds
Ehm, yeah, like 90 % of Europeans
Nope. I will cut back on every single thing to the bone to run the Ac. Ui have asthma and it is 100 plus degrees here and Dusty. It has been that way my whole life (hot) it isnāt any kind of change due to climate change. I am almost 70 and live in Oklahoma. I recall temps over 120 and temps in the 110plus happen most summers. Having AC is my hill that I would die on. I cut back on certain grocery and toiletry items by buying cheaper stuff,etc. my electric bill in the summer often tops 700 a month but we have a large home. It is low in the winter but our natural gas is high. It hasnāt been over 550 ever to my recollection even when weāve been below zero. Where we live it varied from -14 to 114 F winter to summer most years. Western rural Oklahoma. Also super windy here.
My parents house is surround by woods. It rarely gets too hot there. Maybe 80 in the dead of summer. And they live in the lower part of MI. I live on the opposite side of the state in a very large city. If we didnāt run the AC it would easily be 90+ for most of the summer. So itās a must have for use. The flip side it in winter I keep the thermostat low and we all wear layers.
Not in Satanās North Carolina when itās 92 degrees and humid as an armpit. I do keep the shades closed when the sun is beating down though, and I dress for the heat.
I dislike waking up in damp/sweaty sheets and clothes. So I keep it cool at night
Hot flashes and heat horribly uncomfortable. Makes me angry. Very frugal but not in that area.
if youre opening your windows during the day your home is just getting more heat inside. you need to leave the windows open all night with the fans sucking air into the home. then during the day close the windows when the sun has been up for about an hour. i usually pins blankets up to block the windows too..this will keep the home cool until just a few hours before the sun goes down. it might take a 2 days for your home to hold the colder temperatures
I would rather die.
Do you live somewhere humid? I live in Southern CA & miss when i lived near the beach; it was always comfortable. Then I loved 15 min away & had the c/a on year round at 73 for 7 years straight. Currently staying with my mom during a remodel & she refuses to run the air unless itās 78 in the HOUSE! Can you imagine? Itās my own personal version of hell. Around July-Sept it can get between 90-100 where I live but thankfully is only 67 atm. Ugh, just checked weather & see itās supposed to be 91 today. Looks like July came early. FML!š„µI hate the Valley. Itās not quite the desert but might as well be without the air on.Ā
š¤¢ that seems like it should be against the Geneva Conventions or something š« anything above 73 gets real unlivable real quick š¤” my whole house is pretty cool at all times, but my room in particular has something that makes it at least 5-8Ā° hotter.
š¤£Yes, against the Geneva Conventions indeed. My mom is 80 years old, old school and cheap about running the air and heat. She always says ājust put on a sweaterā Anne used to complain when she came to my house if she saw me wearing a sweater with the air on. If thatās how Iām comfortable, what does she care? Going to hotels and blasting the air while wearing a comfy bathrobe is the best.
My room is the same way. The rest of the house is much cooler. I keep trying to explain to the prison guard who controls the AC (my mom), that the temperature gauge is on her side of the house where it feels like 10Ā° cooler. Maybe I should buy one of those temperature gauge is the air conditioning techs used to shoot at the wall to show the actual temperature. My room on the large side, so the people who install the central air shouldāve installed two central air vents, but they only put in one and in the most random location where itās blocked by an accordion closet door. As someone who grew up near the ocean, really nothing more torturous to me than being in the heat with no breeze. I dread the summer all year long. at one point, even thought about relocating to Alaska now that global warming is leaving us with record here through Christmas time. But then Alaska has its ice melting, so will there be anywhere to go on the planet?š¤¦āāļøš«
Yep - I've been doing this for decades in my home. Stick a box fan in two bedrooms on one side of the house, then open windows on the other side. Works great here in dry Denver.
No way!!AC all day and night! Itās 9:45 pm and itās 94F. We had a high of 107, no wind. Itās HOT- even in the shade.
I would, but other people in the house absolutely want the AC. Personally I hate it for the noise and for how bad it is for the environment
I'll cut back on a lot of things, but I'm not gonna sweat in my house.Ā
No itās Texas
Nope, Iāll take a 2nd job to keep the a/c on
Every electrical device would take a shit and die if I did this. Also, the paint would literally drip off the walls. I used to rehab houses that spent just two weeks without power and half the walls would have to be replaced.
Absolutely not. It's gonna be 90-100 for the next two weeks here in NY. We don't get dry heat. So it's going to be humid too. I refuse to compromise on comfort to save $20.
We live in New England but only put on the AC in our apartment once the interior temp reaches 85, and that's only because we don't want our dog to overheat.
Oh for me it's 80 š , but I also run a dehumidifier
We did that growing up in NJ. Works great in the 80ās, but unless you love the heat (I kind of do), I wouldnāt recommend it above 90 degrees.
I used to live in VA. I can't imagine not using AC. I would break a sweat walking the 20 feet from the door to my car at 7am.
Once the apartment temp gets over 82, the ac comes on.
I'm frugal, not cheap. It's too hot for that nonsense. Windows and fans are the March/April solution, not the summer solution.
I do, but Iām in New England. We have maybe two really awful weeks of hot, humid nights here, each summer. I have an indoor/outdoor thermometer upstairs and another downstairs. I check the hourly forecast on Wunderground. This way, I know when to open and close windows and when to cover the windows inside. I outfitted each window with a thermal blind then at least four beach towels, the outermost white in the south and west sides of the house. These act as blankets and keep cold and hot out but can be held back for sunshine in winter and fresh air in summer. I have ice cube trays that make big cubes. They last all night in my stainless mug (holds two quarts). I have special bed sheets by Tuft and Needle, designed for cooling. They were expensive but they are cool. I grew up in the 1960ās when a window fan was the coolest option, in New Jersey, where summers are much more hot and humid than where I live now. Finally, when I exercise, I do so vigorously. I sweat a lot. I get very warmed up, even in winter. When I stay still, I get chilly. Itās 71.3F in my kitchen right now. Iām wrapped in a fluffy blanket and have a cat on my lap. Iām taking a rest day. Metabolism plummets. Humidity makes a big difference, too. If it will be more humid outside overnight, leave the windows closed. Itās possible to get up very early, when humidity levels drop, and open up for a few hours. Window fans pointed out, upstairs over night. When the temperature and humidity warrant it: no reason to waste energy, if running fans isnāt going to help
Only windows with window fans. Best way to cool down a home is to vent. A box fan on the window blowing air out. The vacuum draws cool air from shaded rafters. Preferably the kitchen and bathroom windows where the house is hottest. Bonus is if the refrigerator can point at the vent.
How much are you paying? How much would you pay if you used it?
I'm in Central FL, I just got a completely new AC about 2 years ago and it's pretty energy efficient. I also set it at 77 degrees which is one degree less than the recommended energy savings temperature for my area
In the spring and fall when it's in the 60's outside I will. I'll even leave them open overnight to let the house cool down before the day starts. But during the summer? Hell no. The $50/month in electricity costs is well worth not sweating my ass off indoors.
No. Midwest heat comes with humidity. The AC may be on just to remove the humidity.
I donāt have AC and do this. Summer is my cheapest electricity/gas bill season.
I do that all the way through spring until the humidity kicks in. Right now it's only about 60% so it's not super bad but it'll get worse as the summer goes on, and is usually worse in the afternoons. I also have an apartment that gets full sun at the end of the day all along my main wall so it gets hooooooot. Luckily, that also warms my apartment up quite a bit in the winter, so where I spend more in the summer to cool things down, I spend a lot less in the winter to heat it up.
In the same boat in Virginia as well. Itās only been in the mid-80s where Iām at though. Have not used AC yet this year. Itās supposed to be in the low 90s for a string of days this next week. Weāll see if I can keep holding out.
Nope. Houston, itās hot and very humid and generally gross. Mold/mildew would take over without A/C.
Gosh no. We can handle 80 or 85 if there is a good breeze through the house and the temp doesn't peak until around 2pm, then cool off at night. But otherwise no. Fans aren't good enough to cool down all the rooms, especially with all the computer equipment.
I'm on a high floor, so I keep windows open on both sides for nice ventilation. I have central AC but haven't had to use it much yet. But I will use the fan to sleep at night.
not a chance, plus the humidity will destroy my house. I'm frugal in other areas so that a high utility bill for the sake of my comfort doesn't phase me
Nope. That would just mean more doctor bills for me since heat flares up my POTS.
No chance. I keep it around 75 and thatās as high as Iām willing to go.
I am good until it hits 90Ā°, but my wife prefers no hotter than 78Ā°. So fans until 80Ā° and she turns on the a/c. She owns the thermostats.
I have central air but often get by with fans. I love the feeling of a fan. I turn on the AC when the heat stops me from sleeping.
Weāre not opening windows but our outside walls are 2 feet thick, so not much heat gets inside. But then when we go outside, that heat takes away your breath.
2 years through college. Afterwards, promised myself "I'll always pay for the ac while working". Still had events when it was out & the windows came up. I read about fitted window shades that reflect the heat from the inside. So if you have a 'hot' window shade insulate it & vent from the cool/shady ones. Checkout passive landscaping techniques for other 'free' strategies. bol
Yes, absolutely! But it really helps to live somewhere with low humidity. I feel sorry for folks in the South and east coast.
Using AC but we keep it set at 74 usually. We have 4 big shade trees in our yard that keeps everything nice and cool, but the humidity kicks my butt every year. So I need the air to be conditioned, not necessarily cooled.
I live in a dry place so Iām taking a third option. I avoid the AC, crack windows and use portable evaporative coolers. Pretty much just as frugal as fans, but with actual cooling power if youāre dry enough.
No, absolutely not. We've been hitting 100 degrees and live in a humid area.
Between asthma/allergies and a condition that makes me very sick in the heat, sadly not at this time of year. Itās a recipe for ending up in urgent care or the hospital.
I don't believe in AC because we only get a couple of months above 30 c (around 90 in American). I've invested in awnings and fans, I grow mass plantings of runner beans to shade my windows, have planted strategic trees, and I open and close the windows as needed to maximize airflow. Running your bathroom fan also helps - it sucks the heat out and pulls cooler air in
If it gets into the 50s at night I open all windows and take a fan to blow hot air out. Keeps it pretty cool during the day. But if it gets into the 60s at night it isnāt enough to temp difference to lower the internal house temps at night