AC Addiction? How To Adjust To A Warmer Way Of Life

Posted on August 27, 2007 by Melissa
Filed Under Frugality, Household

Fans help beat the heat We made a commitment this summer. We decided that we would change our ways when it came to our air conditioner in an effort to reduce our electric bills (averaging well over $350 in the hot summer months).

Unfortunately, especially for people who live in horribly hot climates like we do, moving that thermostat dial a little higher can be harder to do than you would think. It’s very easy to become AC-addicted when every time you walk outside you hit a wall of heat that just makes you want to pass out or jump in a pool. By increasing your thermostat 10 degrees, your AC unit will not need to run as often and you will save (potentially big!) on your energy costs.

Here are a few tips on how to get used to the higher temps when raising your thermostat.

Slow but steady. Don’t just jack up the thermostat 10 degrees and expect to adjust overnight. You will feel miserable. If you increase the thermostat a degree or two once a week, this helps your body get used to it and hopefully that will lessen the impact. Once you reach your desired temperature give yourself at least 2 weeks to adjust to it. According to the University of Iowa:

“Acclimatization usually occurs over a period of about two weeks in healthy, normal persons,” he adds. “This process is faster in response to heat, but slower in the cold.”

We increased the thermostat gradually and when we felt comfortable at the current temp we knew it was time to try another degree. By the end of the month we were comfortably living 10 degrees higher than normal. Our thermostat has never even seen temps this high before (my husband and I used to like it “unnaturally” cool in the house). I understand that eventually we will hit a ceiling, a point at which we sacrifice personal comfort, and that is when we will know we have gone too far. Frugality shouldn’t be torture and the law of diminishing returns definitely applies here.

Use fans liberally. Well, at least at first to help with the transition. We have a system of fans blowing cooler air into our bedroom while we sleep. We are very much cold weather people and sleeping in warmer weather can make for some sleepless nights. Eventually we’re hoping to turn off (or at least reduce) this network of fans but so far we still depend on them to sleep through the night without waking up in a sweat.

It will cost some money initially to get the fans (either box or ceiling fans) but it is worth the expense. Portable fans use less energy to run, provide focused and concentrated cooling, and can be used many places in the home where the AC doesn’t seem as effective. Why pay to cool parts of your home you aren’t currently occupying? That being said – be sure to turn off the fans when you leave that room. We are trying to save electricity, after all, and fans don’t run on love.

Keep in mind that in hot climates ceiling and box fans do not really replace air conditioning - they provide a wind chill effect but can not reduce the air temperature in your home. Most people find the best way to maintain a comfortable home AND reduce their energy bills is to use a combination of air conditioning and fans.

Wear lighter clothing. Wearing lighter clothing to stay cooler may seem like a no-brainer but sometimes we forget to make small changes like this. I always used to wear pajama pants to bed because we would keep the temperature so low. I also had a comforter to snuggle in if I got too chilly. When we turned the temperature up I didn’t immediately think to change my wardrobe or bedding to help feel cool. Making these small changes helped out.

Take it to the floor. If it feels too warm while you are adjusting consider spending some quality time on the floor. Hot air rises so it is naturally a little bit cooler closer to the ground. Try enjoying an evening on the floor for a change – have an indoor “picnic”, play a game with your children or pets, or just watch a movie or read.