AC already

[Buc-O-Mama]

I'm trying to avoid last summer's 400$(+) electric bills. Our AC is already on but we've made a few changes since last summer.

We've installed a whole house exhaust type fan to use when it's not too humid

ceiling fans in the family room and each bedroom so that we can raise the temp.

dark roll down shades on our back porch to cut the daylinght into the house

We still need to install extra weather stripping on all of our doors and windows

Our thermostat is set at 78 during the day and 79 at night. It is an adjustment, last summer we ran it at 75-76 all the time. Hopefully we will see a savings along with other stuff we are doing around the house.

Any ideas to help cut the AC cost?

[M55FF]

I've gotten ready too. AC man came by and replaced all my AC ductwork in the attic, have all thermal curtains now except a few which I have bought heavy duty light blocking/ room darkening pull down shades.

Cleaned all the fans ( both celiling and floor fans) and they are ready to go.

I'm glad my trees are getting seriously big, so big they put my roof under shade after noon, which cuts the bill.

Also use the garage door instead of the front door when I can, to prevent hot air from coming in.

We are planning to buy a new unit within a year, that should also help.
My neighbors have really high bills so I know what I'm doing helps.

I wish I would have planted a few oak trees on the south side of my house when I moved in, they would have been BIG by now. I think trees and their shade, really help

My bills last summer ( all electric house) about 200 ( closer to 300 in august) ... hopefully they will stay about 200 this year too ( asking for lower may be asking too much with the price increases).

[FrugalMomof3]

No AC ready here but what about fans? Gosh I cant wait to even think about it being time to bust out the AC

[sixfreds]

Move to New England :~) just joking, I saw the name of the post and thought I wish I needed ac we still have snow on the ground and should be getting some more tonight.

Eileen

[M55FF]

without air conditioning and pesticides, florida and texas would be vacant

[mickee311]

without air conditioning and pesticides, florida and texas would be vacant

Don't forget retirement trailer communities.........

[shoiji]

Not time for air conditioning here. Bummer. But I am eyeing fans that I see. Need one for the bedroom. Maybe I will luck out again and find one next to the dumpster. Oh yea!!