Electric bill

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fury3

Banned
Sep 21, 2005
64
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Ok, just moved into my new apartment guys. My dad tried to explain stuff to me about saving money on my electric bill, but this was during the whole move in process. Does leaving your AC on at a certain temp, say 76f, save more money than turning the AC off during the day when I am not here, and coming back to a HEAT infested apartment and having to cool it down again. What are your thoughts on this? I live in Tx, although we are getting our first cold front as we speak, I am just wondering for future reference.
 
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dawnbug

Golden Member
Oct 29, 2002
1,670
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I think that the general suggestion is to set the AC to a higher temperature while you're away and then turn it down to a more comfortable temp when you get back, instead of turning it off completely. Then it doesn't have to work hard to suck the humidity out of the air over and over again.

I'm not 100% sure that this is the best way to go about it, but that's what I've heard.
 
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Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
keep ac off....... wear more cloths :D

edit....... or should I say less cloths ;)

Cheers,
Aquaman
 
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brtspears2

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2000
8,659
1
81
If I am not home, AC off. Leave all the blinds closed so sunlight can't heat up your home. When you need AC, turn it on and set it to 80 and sit in front of a fan.
 
CrackRabbit

CrackRabbit

Lifer
Mar 30, 2001
16,642
62
91
It might be in your best interst to get a programmable thermostat.
You can set it so that it lets your apartment heat up durring the day when you arent there and you can have it kick on an hour before you get home so you can come home to a cool apartment. Helps save a bit of power and keep you comfortable.
Plus the controls are usualy more acurate that the POS thermostats that come standard in most apartments.
 
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Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
It takes more energy to cool your house down after leaving the A/C off all day than it does to keep it at the set temperature all day.

Think thermal mass.

The A/C doesen't just have to cool the air down, it has to cool every object in the house down.

Once every object in the house is at the set temperature, they work with your A/C to keep it at that temperature.
 
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fury3

Banned
Sep 21, 2005
64
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so, if I leave it on 75 when im here during the say, would u put it at 78-80 while im gone, or higher?
 
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iwantanewcomputer

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2004
5,045
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Originally posted by: Eli
It takes more energy to cool your house down after leaving the A/C off all day than it does to keep it at the set temperature all day.

Think thermal mass.

The A/C doesen't just have to cool the air down, it has to cool every object in the house down.

Once every object in the house is at the set temperature, they work with your A/C to keep it at that temperature.
Click to expand...

ummm... NO.

Do an energy balance on the house. Over a long period of time...like a month, there is no change in temperature. So the energy you spend running the AC equals the heat that enters the house from the outside. this heat transfer is proportional to the temperature gradient. Amaller temperature gradient for some of the time means less heat transfer over the long term, because there is less heat entering the house that has to be transferred out by the AC.
 
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iwantanewcomputer

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2004
5,045
0
0
Originally posted by: fury3
so, if I leave it on 75 when im here during the say, would u put it at 78-80 while im gone, or higher?
Click to expand...

turn it up as high as you want it to be when you get home. higher temperature will mean it will be more uncomfortable for a longer period of time when you get home.
 
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Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Originally posted by: Chrono
Originally posted by: Aquaman
Originally posted by: illusion88
Originally posted by: mdchesne
Originally posted by: Aquaman
keep ac off....... wear more cloths :D

edit....... or should I say less cloths ;)

Cheers,
Aquaman
Click to expand...

more like clothes
lol
Click to expand...

so pwned
Click to expand...

OMG a pack of e-thug spelling nazis :Q :confused: ;)

Cheers,
Aquaman
Click to expand...

Just because your dumb nerdass can't spell. ;)
Click to expand...

You better check yourself.......... Dug777 will pee in your butt :p

Cheers,
Aquaman
 
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Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: iwantanewcomputer
Originally posted by: Eli
It takes more energy to cool your house down after leaving the A/C off all day than it does to keep it at the set temperature all day.

Think thermal mass.

The A/C doesen't just have to cool the air down, it has to cool every object in the house down.

Once every object in the house is at the set temperature, they work with your A/C to keep it at that temperature.
Click to expand...

ummm... NO.

Do an energy balance on the house. Over a long period of time...like a month, there is no change in temperature. So the energy you spend running the AC equals the heat that enters the house from the outside. this heat transfer is proportional to the temperature gradient. Amaller temperature gradient for some of the time means less heat transfer over the long term, because there is less heat entering the house that has to be transferred out by the AC.
Click to expand...
So what exactly was wrong about what I said?

I was thinking "reasonable" here.

Of course if you try and keep your house at 55 degrees when it's 105 outside, that's going to cost you.

Edit: Ok, I finally understand what you're saying.

So you're saying that it is more worth it to turn the A/C off when you're not at home, because the temperature gradient will be less?

hmm.. Ok. If you say so.

I always thought that it took more energy to cool the house off once it had warmed than to keep it at the set temperature.

I suppose this depends on a lot of things, like the efficiency of your house, etc...
 
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