Is it better to leave your AC on all day at a higher temp ( I have a small animal in the home) or is it better to turn it on and off as needed. I have heard the amount of electricity to start an AC is worse than maintaining it. Anyone know for sure?
2007-08-20 19:55:08 · 5 answers · asked by Dawn E 2 in Environment ➔ Green Living
In the long run, keeping the temperature difference minimal between inside the house and outside will require the least amount of energy. That is, the higher the thermostat is set, the less the AC will run in the summer. The amount of run time required to cool a house allowed to come to its max temperature will be longer as the heat removal (which is how the AC works) requires more energy than if the heat load in the house is minimized. Mathematically, you may want to consult Fourier's Law which says the the quantity of heat (Q) is equal to the thermal conductivity of the heat exchange medium multiplied by the area of the heat exchanger and multiplied further by the DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURE. All of this is then divided by the thickness of the heat exchanger. (The heat exchanger is the coil-like device where heat is exhausted to the outside air and on the cold side, absorbs heat from the air inside the house.)
In short, set the thermostat and leave it alone. Summer - set it high / Winter - set it low.
Note: While there is an inrush of electrical current to start the compressor on the AC, overall it's going to be the run-time of the unit that is the greatest portion of the energy that is consumed.
2007-08-23 14:48:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Turning it off while not mandatory is incredibly going to save you some dollars. in case you would be conscious down the interpreting on the electrical powered meter, then you definately can attempt the two recommendations pronounced right here for an afternoon each and notice which decision consumes greater electrical energy.
2016-10-16 07:47:21 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great question. I leave my thermostat at 78 degrees at all times. I have a cat that can't make those decisions. She has to live with what I decide. When I get home ....it feels cool to me. I don't know how it felt to her all day. I think it's better to let it run and keep the temp the same than have to cool down the whole place at one time.
2007-08-20 20:20:56 · answer #3 · answered by chilicooker_mkb 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Check with your local electric company. Everyone knows that it's better to raise and lower the temperature.
2007-08-21 06:16:28 · answer #4 · answered by jdkilp 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i just leave mine on.
2007-08-23 13:12:46 · answer #5 · answered by SKITTLES 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋