Question about AC in Houston Your Tips Please!! (apartment, how much)

[azamsharp]

I like in a 3200 sq feet house in Houston. Houston is hot no question about it but I have no complains. Anyway! Since my house is two story what is a good temperature to set. I mean if the downstairs is 78F then should I set the upstairs also at 78F?

Also, how much a new unit cost?

Also, any tips you have to save on electricity when using AC?

[predatorprey]

It depends on your comfort level at what temperatures you should set your house.
I set mine at 78 and that's fine for me, others have theirs at 74. Free country.

My tips to save utilities expenses.
I purchased a programmable thermalstat. Easy to install and pretty cheap like $30-40.
Depends on your layout of the house and if you have anyone home at work.

Set it automatically higher like 80 degrees when no one is home for both floors and have it automatically go back down 30 minutes before anyone gets home.

Also if your bedrooms are in one floor stay all up stairs, set down stairs higher after bed time. No need to cool rooms no one is at.

A few tips I do. Obviously turn it up when no one is home on weekends by 1 degree.

[tdhg566]

If no one is home for an extended period of time, e.g. 4-8 hours, turn the A/C OFF if you can (i.e. no pets or delicate plants). It's an urband legend that this is more expensive than just turning the A/C UP. People who believe that haven't taken basic science classes or don't understand simple heat transfer. Years ago, while single and living in an off-base apartment during my years in the service, I wasn't pleased with my electric bill during the hot, humid summer. I tried an experiement and after just turning the A/C up for a few months, I turned it OFF. It took a little extra time to cool the apt when I got home, but my bill dropped dramatically. So if you can turn the A/C OFF even to just the upstairs, you'll be saving money.

The electronic thermostat is a great idea. If you can get one that allows you to reprogram a TEMPORARY new temperature, for a set period, e.g. 2 hours, this allows you to add extra cool (or heat) for a short period without worrying you'll forget to reset the temp back to the desired setting.

If you have an older house, you should seriously consider getting an energy audit that checks for leaks and proper insulation. Don't have the insulation company do this. Check Angie's list for reputable auditors.

If you have ceiling fans, use them. Moving air feels much cooler than stagnant air. I also use a de-humidifier during parts of the year, esp early and late in the season when the temperature isn't that high but the humidity has started to crank up. Moist air feels warmer than dry air.

FWIW, I set my temp at 80 degrees in the living areas, and 82 in the areas of the house we don't occupy.