Can YOU make it in Arizona WITHOUT air conditioning from May-September? (Phoenix: condos, homes)

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Probably the only place in AZ that I wouldn't need A/C is Greer. It has reached the mid to upper 80s there at the most, but high temperatures are usually in the 70s during most of the summer up there. People also need to keep in mind that places in AZ that don't require A/C as much make up for it in the winter with the demand for heating.

There's also Summerhaven, up near Mt. Lemmon, where the elevation is anywhere from 7,600 to 8,200 feet and it rarely hits 90 F.

[Colt AZ]

Just so you know (JSYK)...
https://energy.gov/articles/history-air-conditioning

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by TAZORAC

A true frugal Liver doesn't cut his AC on..thats why

But where in AZ? As mentioned many times, AZ has a diverse climate. You likely wouldn't die without AC anywhere though, if that's what you're actually asking.

[Colt AZ]

Originally Posted by TAZORAC

A true frugal Liver doesn't cut his AC on..thats why

Frugality is one thing, but it's not admirable when you may be putting your health or others' health at risk. Also, certain household electronics and appliances could be affected by your decision to be "frugal".

The good news is that it is not mandatory to use AC in Arizona, however it may become more difficult to find homes built without AC in the future -- especially in the lower desert areas.

IMHO, if you must live in Arizona, then you certainly should consider higher and cooler elevations.

[BIG CATS]

Could you survive w/o a/c? If youre healthy and not elderly, I'm sure one could. But why would you want to? That's theq question! Why subject yourself to months on end of insane heat? Ick.

[TAZORAC]

Whats the hottest region in Arizona? Southern AZ? Maybe thats for another topic.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by TAZORAC

Whats the hottest region in Arizona? Southern AZ? Maybe thats for another topic.

Hottest year round is Yuma in the far SW corner.

Hottest in the summer is a strip on the CA&NV border from Lake Havasu City up to Bullhead City

[Vision67]

My family moved to Phoenix in 1952. I was 2 years old. My dad bought a new house near Indian School road and 19th Ave. I think he paid about $9K for it; he put $1 down with a GI mortgage.

The house had just a swamp box. We never did have AC until we moved to another new house in 1964.

So from age 2 to 14, every summer after the monsoons started, we sweated. I hated it! Every damn night I'd lay awake in a pool of sweat dreaming about getting out of there.

When I was 9, we took a vacation to Ouray, Colorado. It was 70 degrees cool in mid-July. I loved it! I decided then that when I grew up, I'd move to Colorado. So I did!

Bottom Line: AC is a must in Phoenix. I think Phoenix now has more summer days above 110 degrees than it did in the 50s. The only way I'd consider moving back is if I had a well insulated house with a huge AC capacity and I could afford to keep the interior air at 73 degrees on the hottest days.

[Dreamweaver's girl]

There are quite a few places in Arizona where you don't need A/C. It depends on the elevation. Up in Flag, for example, you will need a woodstove for those chilly summer nights.

[E. Marrhews]

Cannot do without some kind of cooling. Swamp coolers cheaper than AC. Most start their cooling first week in May.