My Rottweiler would probably pass out waiting 8 hours in 100+ temperatures. I'll just pay the electric bill thanks.
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What temp do you set your AC to before you leave the house for work?
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My Rottweiler would probably pass out waiting 8 hours in 100+ temperatures. I'll just pay the electric bill thanks.
RiccochetJ
Gold Member
78.
I have pets at home. If the weekends are anything to go by, it usually takes it until 4 or 5pm for it to get to that point. So it only turns on once during the day while I'm away.
I have pets at home. If the weekends are anything to go by, it usually takes it until 4 or 5pm for it to get to that point. So it only turns on once during the day while I'm away.
NoblesseOblige
Banned
Well that explains that. As I mentioned in another post, I'm in Michigan so I totally understand the extremes of bitter cold to hot (we also get insane Humidity thanks to all these lakes). However every place I've lived, from houses to multi story apartment complexes have been heated by gas. My energy bill is like $30-40 in the winter (and this summer also since I haven't needed to use AC once). Still seems crazy to me why they would heat by electricity though. Especially considering entire blocks (sometimes cities!) commonly lose power in the dead of winter here thanks to ice and snow knocking down branches into electric lines.
If you have pet that's understandable, but we have posts here saying it's to save electricity.
You are also having to remove moisture from all the furnishings and wood. The back/forth humidity cycle is really bad and can warp floors and such. We had to pay a good bit more for a 2 stage compressor and we just replaced it this year. There was a 5 stage compressor available that was in a really small and quiet outdoor unit, but the price was double. Still, good to see technology improvements. We've had good succees with the 2 stage so far. In previous years we had to run a dehumidifier in the basement to prevent mildew and such. The 2 stage has a lot higher percent of runtime, but at a lower cool setting and it keeps it under control.
I keep mine at 60 right now. I realize it can freeze but for 3 years I've been lucky now. My apartments have gotten plenty of late fee profit from me in the past so they'll be fine if it does. (lost job though no fault of my own, little savings, no friends and family network, struggling to get by).
Why? My AC is out in my car. The temperatures 95+, 100+ the last week. I have to drive up to an hour home depending on traffic. That's baking. I'm moving next month so this will be eliminated, then I will probably keep it around 72 for the pets.
Why? My AC is out in my car. The temperatures 95+, 100+ the last week. I have to drive up to an hour home depending on traffic. That's baking. I'm moving next month so this will be eliminated, then I will probably keep it around 72 for the pets.
D
Deleted member 752119
Unconfirmed Member
Yep. Also in Atlanta and leave it on 73. Power bill was worse when we tried bumping it up a few degrees when leaving as it would run the rest of the night trying to cool.
Shitty rental house is poorly insulated, especially upstairs. Had to add a portable AC unit to my man cave as it's above the garage and the central a/c doesn't cut it (only thermostat is downstairs).
Even with that the worst summer electric bill we've had was $250ish, which isn't a lot of money for us thankfully.
I just bought a new house (well, new to me, it was built in '67) so I don't have a good "baseline" for it yet to know what's normal. It's a brick rancher just under 1600 sqft. It has central air, but it's a nearly 20 year old system that I'm already saving up to replace (though I had the compressor replaced two weeks after moving in under the provided home warranty). I had one of my local HVAC companies out for a maintenance meeting and they said given it's age it seems to run really well (of course this was after having the compressor replaced) and they had to replace a cap in the compressor unit.
In any case, my past two electric bills have been about $100. This time of year, in my old 900 sqft. one bedroom apartment with a newer system (both heat pumps), I'd have been at about $70-$80, so figure it's about the same kwh-wise.
I've been keeping it at 73 constantly except for when I go away for a week or two for work at which point I set it to 78. I've found that it holds setpoint pretty well, it seems decently insulated aside from leaky doors that I'll need to fix with new thresholds. So the behavior tends to be "run for 5-10 minutes, not run for anywhere from 20 - 40 minutes" depending on the temp outside. This is regardless of the actual setpoint so I figure leaving it at a constant temperature is better than having it work for an hour or so to bring the whole house down to setpoint in the afternoon if I were to turn it off completely. Being in Virginia I also need to actually have it running throughout the day to keep the humidity in check.
The only real thing is that the house gets full-on afternoon sun prior to sunset, no shade on the west side which is the front of the house, so that is a detriment during the summer but should actually help during the winter. I'm kind of dreading the heating months though since it's an electric system, I'm preparing myself for $500 electric bills or more, haha. I'm definitely going to look into getting natural gas installed at the house with a hybrid heat pump/gas furnace system installed as the replacement since the past two or three winters have been crazy cold here, much moreso than I believe has been the norm. Between the hybrid system for the winter and moving the heat pump from what is probably a SEER 9 system to at least at SEER 15 I figure that will help with costs as well (and hopefully pay for the upgrade cost - though I suspect the ducts in my crawl will need to replaced too).
In any case, my past two electric bills have been about $100. This time of year, in my old 900 sqft. one bedroom apartment with a newer system (both heat pumps), I'd have been at about $70-$80, so figure it's about the same kwh-wise.
I've been keeping it at 73 constantly except for when I go away for a week or two for work at which point I set it to 78. I've found that it holds setpoint pretty well, it seems decently insulated aside from leaky doors that I'll need to fix with new thresholds. So the behavior tends to be "run for 5-10 minutes, not run for anywhere from 20 - 40 minutes" depending on the temp outside. This is regardless of the actual setpoint so I figure leaving it at a constant temperature is better than having it work for an hour or so to bring the whole house down to setpoint in the afternoon if I were to turn it off completely. Being in Virginia I also need to actually have it running throughout the day to keep the humidity in check.
The only real thing is that the house gets full-on afternoon sun prior to sunset, no shade on the west side which is the front of the house, so that is a detriment during the summer but should actually help during the winter. I'm kind of dreading the heating months though since it's an electric system, I'm preparing myself for $500 electric bills or more, haha. I'm definitely going to look into getting natural gas installed at the house with a hybrid heat pump/gas furnace system installed as the replacement since the past two or three winters have been crazy cold here, much moreso than I believe has been the norm. Between the hybrid system for the winter and moving the heat pump from what is probably a SEER 9 system to at least at SEER 15 I figure that will help with costs as well (and hopefully pay for the upgrade cost - though I suspect the ducts in my crawl will need to replaced too).
Hibiki Kurosawa
Member
Eeeww all these farenheiters.
I try to set it to 20 degrees celsius, but others in the house change it, dammit!
I try to set it to 20 degrees celsius, but others in the house change it, dammit!
Mammoth Jones
Member
In all seriousness I wish I had central air. And an app to control it from the internet. So I could turn it on 20 min before I get home.
Yeah, lots of publicly funded hydroelectric dams built in the 50s/60s, and nuclear built in the 70s let us coast a long time on cheap electricity. Considering the oil crisis of the time, it just made sense to heat with it.
Needless to say, since it's so important for home heating, the Hydro grid is very robust. (Thanks to all the hydroelectric dams, "Hydro" is a synonym for "electricity" here in Ontario.) It takes ice storm events to knock it out, and things are usually fixed within a few hours. Though there have been exceptions.
I don't have a timer but I've been wanting to get a Nest for awhile, so I may get one the next time I get some money.
Not all A/Cs have timers.
Charles Alan Ratliff
Member
76°F. I have a fluffy kitty.
Hip Hop
Member
TheGoddamn
Member
Americans are so fucking wasteful.
Brazil experiences higher temperatures and yet has less than one-sixth of the consumption.
Congratulations! Your home just used as much electricity in a month as the average Brazilian or Mexican household in a year; both countries are hotter than the "hot" places commonly cited in this thread, Texas and Florida.
Boo hoo. Those are heat indexes, are they not?
And people have the nerve to suggest that climate change isn't caused by humans. Just because it's there and you can afford it financially doesn't mean that you should.
Americans are so fucking wasteful.
Brazil experiences higher temperatures and yet has less than one-sixth of the consumption.
Congratulations! Your home just used as much electricity in a month as the average Brazilian or Mexican household in a year; both countries are hotter than the "hot" places commonly cited in this thread, Texas and Florida.
Yeah man, let me get some fans so it can handle this. So wasteful, you're right.
Boo hoo. Those are heat indexes, are they not?
And people have the nerve to suggest that climate change isn't caused by humans. Just because it's there and you can afford it financially doesn't mean that you should.
Americans are so fucking wasteful.
Yeah fuck us for not wanting to sweat inside our houses. Lol.
America actually gets way hotter then you think in certain states even hotter then Brazil. My in-laws for example in Nevada are right around 42/43 Celsius highs all week. This was their temps last month. I set my temp at 80 degrees Fahrenheit when we are gone and knock it down to 76 when I get home
Also what's the average size house in Brazil? Your comparing statistics really poorly in your examples unfortunately. Not saying us Americans are wasteful on house sizes (we absolutely are) but it's not a easy comparison to make
balladofwindfishes
Member
For 4 months of the year, I live in a white wasteland of below freezing daily, and for two of those months, it's pretty much at or below 0 every single day.
And that doesn't really bother me all that much, I'm used to it, and I set my heat to like, 60, and don't even notice.
But for about two months every year, my area hits the low 90s, with near 100% humidity, and being so used to frigid, cold weather, people around here just cannot tolerate that. We can't get used to it, because it doesn't last long enough and the other extreme happens more frequently, and for longer. So when summer comes, we have a hard time adjusting and so most people around here basically require an AC to function.
People in Brazil and Mexico are not only used to hot, humid weather 24/7, but they also have proper clothing for it, homes built for it, and pretty much an entire way of life around it.
Around here, we just put our snow shovels away in April and a week later it was 85. There's no adjusting to that. Our homes, our clothing, cars and lives are all adjusted around extreme cold and snow. Because to us, that's the much bigger part of our lives. So when summer rolls around, we don't know how to handle it without AC. The average AC setting in my area is 70 degrees. People in Texas would probably think that was basically freezing. And yet that's where my fellow western New Yorkers are most comfortable.
TheLostBigBoss
Banned
You're shitting on the US for using AC, yet you completely ignore the skyrocketing increase of it as countries grow richer and the middle class explodes in population, which then leads to an increase of luxuries like AC (Like Mexico and Brazil). China already doubled it's AC use in five years, just to show an example.
It's like you think AC is the single source of electrical use and is constantly used 24/7.
Depending on the city they are indeed real temperatures. Phoenix, Arizona for example might go a couple of months with highs staying above 100
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
Refrigerators is the next on his list to lambast. Who needs that shit??? Just don't eat, you'll be saving the world from global warming.
Hip Hop
Member
No, it's Arizona. Those are the actual temperatures for about 4-5 months out of the year here.
CMojicaAce
Member
I don't have an AC/thermostat system, but if I did, I wouldn't leave it on if I wasn't home. Seems wasteful.
But I understand why people leave it on if they have pets.
But I understand why people leave it on if they have pets.
You're comparing not letting your food rot away with "boo hoo it's hot and i can't be arsed to wait 10 minutes"? Fuck off with that bullshit.
balladofwindfishes
Member
The person he quoted was against AC at all, not just having it on during the day.
I can't imagine coming home with the AC off I would be miserable.
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
I wish I could do that but I live in a manufacturing home
Dedication Through Light
Member
I keep it at 78 because I want to be a steward to the environment and keep energy costs down. Unfortunately with a roommate with different thinking my energy cost skyrocket during the summer, to three times the cost when I was alone the previous year.
For people saying just turning off your AC would be better. I have some data for you.
I live in Atlanta. I live in an apartment. I spent all of 2014 doing what you stated. When I was here the AC was at 78 and turned off when I was at work. I'd come back to an apartment that was 86-90 degrees and it would take a long time for the AC to recool the apartment.
For example: My bill in July 2014 doing this: $110.00
In the begging of 2015 I switched to just bumping the AC up to 80-82 when I left for work. I'd turn it back down to 78 when I got home.
My bill for July 2015: $77.50
For me, obviously, it makes more sense to just bump the AC up than to turn it off.
My June bills were also about the same amount off as well. I expect August will be the same too.
I live in Atlanta. I live in an apartment. I spent all of 2014 doing what you stated. When I was here the AC was at 78 and turned off when I was at work. I'd come back to an apartment that was 86-90 degrees and it would take a long time for the AC to recool the apartment.
For example: My bill in July 2014 doing this: $110.00
In the begging of 2015 I switched to just bumping the AC up to 80-82 when I left for work. I'd turn it back down to 78 when I got home.
My bill for July 2015: $77.50
For me, obviously, it makes more sense to just bump the AC up than to turn it off.
My June bills were also about the same amount off as well. I expect August will be the same too.
God Dayumm
Banned
I hate that my landlord leaves the AC at 72 all day during the warm seasons, which is too cold and wasteful, yet calls me out when I turn it up to 74 during the heavy winter to make it tolerable
congratulations on the most ridiculous post I've read all day.
Not being a smart ass but, in your comparison for Brazil or Mexico, do they even have AC for non super rich people?
God Dayumm
Banned
Yes. And they are usually older less efficient systems to boot
Nice from outside, dark hole from inside.
Being able to turn a 100 degrees into 70 degrees only through city architecture is what we need.
Hip Hop
Member
It was a horrible post.
And yeah, of course they do. It's a necessity in some areas, poor or rich. In my experience (and got family over there), it's usually older AC's being used.
evaporative coolers were also popular back in my days when I lived in Mexico for those that couldn't afford AC's. Less expensive. But had to be filled through out the day with water.
I don't care what the temperature is in the day time. We usually turn it off and run fans during the day unless the temps get in the 90s or we have friends or guests over. In the summer if I am home I can wear shorts and I have a bad knee that feels good when it is hot outside.
But I like it cold at night. 70-74 usually. Also like to sleep in the cold in the winter too...
But I like it cold at night. 70-74 usually. Also like to sleep in the cold in the winter too...
Allforce
Member
I work from home so we never turn ours off. I don't know why everyone is saying you must be balling to do this, I think the highest my electric bill has been this summer is 160 bucks. and our house is almost 3000 sq ft.
I have touched the thermostat exactly once since mid May this year, and that was to turn it from 73 up to 78 when we went on vacation back in June for a week. Turned it back down to 73 when I got home, but never off.
I have touched the thermostat exactly once since mid May this year, and that was to turn it from 73 up to 78 when we went on vacation back in June for a week. Turned it back down to 73 when I got home, but never off.
dr3upmushroom
Banned
No need for AC where I live.
then there is something off about those statistics as johnny above questioned.
There's too many variables, between home construction, home size, how many electronics and appliances.
I'd bet if you made the exact same chart that he posted, except only did it for Americans, and did it household income, it would look similar from low income to the wealthiest people.
balladofwindfishes
Member
Apparently you sleep better when you're a little bit warmer. Like 76-78 I've heard.
maybe the average person would, I would toss and turn all night waking up in a sweat multiple times at 78 degrees. I have issues sleeping in general if it's above 60 and I don't have a fan blowing on me. 72 or so with a fan blowing on me seems to be around my upper limit before I can't get comfortable and can't stay asleep all night.
I just use a thin blanket (need something covering me as well to be comfortable which is part of the reason) but I radiate heat. I can go outside when it's 30 degrees and as long as there is no breeze could sit around in shorts and a t-shirt and read a book for hours without ever feeling cold. I shovel the snow at work in just a t-shirt and pants all of the time even in the middle of near blizzard conditions lol.
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