Refusing to use AC at home (old, money)

[gypsychic]

I live in coastal Florida, and once lived in an old house with NO AC. I was uncomfortable at times but I survived.

I now live in a different house that does have AC, it's block with terrazzo floors and well-built, it is also two blocks from the bay. I am very comfortable almost all year except for about 4 months. In about a month I will probably have to turn it on for sleeping, and by June it will probably have to run 24/7 at about 80 degrees until mid-September or October. As another poster mentioned, it's about reducing the humidity.

I might consider getting a dehumidifier and see if that helps.

[ccc123]

When my husband and I first got married we lived in a very rundown old trailer that had no A/C in Georgia where it is very humid it was miserable. We promised ourselves that we would work hard and never have to do without A/C again when we got on our feet and we don't.

[NJBest]

The beauty of AC is that it's typically required in months when there is plenty sun. So the net cost of AC is minimal. In southern states, it might be free. You have to think frugal. Just slap on solar panels onto your roof, and your electricity is free... while at the same time, being less wasteful, and more environmentally friendly than those who still use fossil-fuel based electricity.

Heat in the winter is still a problem though.

[flyonpa]

My GA home 2500sqf in the summer using about 8-9 KwH per hour to run the AC.

How many Sq Feet of panels would I need, Also Keep in mind, that they can not been seen from the street (so apx 2/3 of the roof is elim) , due to HOA rules. (And the front of the house is the south faceing side.)

[yellowsnow]

I avoid turning it on as long as possible. I use my fans and try to stay cool. I take dips in the pool, that helps a lot.

But just like where I live(Vegas), simply not using AC at all in DFW is not an option.

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by cittic10

Look into getting an attic fan.

Attic fans can be very effective. In Kansas, I lived in a big old pre-AC house, and I salvaged a quiet high-speed circulating fan, which I mounted in the hatch leading to the attic. It made the house quite a bit more tolerable when it was 105-110 outside, which is pretty typical for a few weeks in summer in Kansas. I h ad a well-shaded lot with lots of trees, so the air pulled in through the windows wasn't overly sun-baked. My uncle in Missouri built a house with attic fans, and he rarely turned on the AC.

[chuck_steak]

Unfortunately, I'm in Texas and doing without A/C is not an option. So far, from this thread I've gathered that Northern Wisconsin and Missouri are two places I'd like to move to. I'd LOVE to live somewhere that is not baking hot like Texas and the A/C is not heeded. Where else would be good?

[krelithous]

if you don't have one you could goto wally world or home depot lowes and get one of them industrial floor fans they work wonders in moving air around. it will feel cooler than it is inside wich means you can raise the thermos stat.

[BigD_JT_14221]

Originally Posted by chuck_steak

Unfortunately, I'm in Texas and doing without A/C is not an option. So far, from this thread I've gathered that Northern Wisconsin and Missouri are two places I'd like to move to. I'd LOVE to live somewhere that is not baking hot like Texas and the A/C is not heeded. Where else would be good?

Missouri is not know for cool summers...

I grew up in Western NY (Buffalo) and had no AC in the house or cars for approx 25 yrs and we were usually fine in the summer. It is pretty rare to see 90+ degree days in Buffalo due to the cooling effect of the Great Lakes to the west.
Other places that wont bake you in the summer would be Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Seattle, San Fran, UP of Michigan. Other parts of NYS would work too - Rochester, Syracuse and points in Northern NYS would fit the bill. I'm sure there are many other spots too.

[snofarmer]

Turn on the A/C


A fan actually will heat up the air
as air is moved it heats up.

If you are sweating the evaporation "cooling effect" will make it "feel" cooler.