The Data
A recent study in the hot climates of Arizona and Georgia tested three usage patterns over an 8-hour workday:
- Leave it running as normal.
- Turn it off for 4 hours, then back to normal.
- Turn it totally off for the full 8 hours.
The Verdict
For older AC units and homes with poor insulation, turning the unit totally off for 8 hours resulted in significant savings. The energy required to "cool the house back down" was less than the energy required to "fight the heat" for 8 consecutive hours.
The Solar Advantage
Of course, this debate only matters for grid-powered units. With an Airspool solar unit, the sun is providing free energy while you are away. In that case, you might as well leave it running! This keeps your home perfectly pre-cooled for when you return, using energy that would otherwise go to waste.
