As our planet overheats, we're relying more heavily on air conditioning to keep our homes comfortable. And as vindication for all the dads out there, using your AC more is one of the biggest contributors to an elevated electricity bill. And it's not just the heat that's making us sweat–it's the humidity.
Yes, running central air conditioning (A/C) in an apartment building will affect your electric bill. The A/C unit consumes electricity to cool the air, and the more it runs, the higher your energy usage will be. Here are some factors that can influence the impact on your bill:
Electricity usage can vary depending on different factors. On average, a home air conditioner can use about 3,000 watts of electricity an hour. If you have it on all day, that's 72,000 watts of electricity a day! However, running it on the 'fan-only' mode will only consume about 750 watts an hour.
What costs the most on your electric bill? Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves. Electronic devices like laptops and TVs are usually pretty cheap to run, but of course, it can all add up.
Air conditioners primarily use electricity to power the system and operate. The electricity consumption can vary depending on the unit's size, efficiency rating, and usage patterns. When it comes to your AC, your electricity bill is what is affected.
It's enough to give cash-strapped households pause the next time they go to flip on the air conditioner. But would keeping the unit off when you're not home actually reduce your bill? The answer is probably not. In milder climates, turning off the A/C for a few hours a day could save some energy and cash.
If you want to test how much power your appliances and devices are using in standby mode, you can buy an electricity usage monitor device. These devices allow you to plug in various tech or appliances and check how much power they're actually using, even in standby mode.
Extra showers, more lights, and adjusting the thermostat even just a couple degrees can all add up to a higher electric bill.
Fans use significantly less energy than air conditioning and can be a great way to cool off on a hot day. With cost as the primary consideration, many people opt to use ceiling fans or standing fans in place of air conditioning to save money.
In general, it's recommended to keep your thermostat between 24°C (75°F) and 26°C (78°F) for a good balance between comfort and energy efficiency.
Anyone who's opened an eye-popping energy bill in the middle of winter or one for air conditioning in the summer has probably wondered which system costs more to operate. According to analyses, it's no comparison: heating your home requires four times more energy in the US than cooling your home.
Air conditioner usage varies based on the size of your AC. However, generally speaking, a central air conditioner will consume between 3000 and 3500 watts per hour. While window units use between 900 and 1440 watts per hour, portable units consume between 2900 and 4100.
Whether you're using your air conditioner in summer or your furnace in winter, this makes up the biggest expense on your electricity bill. In fact, heating and cooling account for close to half of an average household's energy usage. The next highest contributor to your electricity bill is your water heater.
The most common reasons for a big jump in your electric bill include changes in your lifestyle, increased usage of energy-hungry appliances, and sudden weather changes.
When your devices are plugged in but not in use, they consume electricity, known as the phantom effect. As a result, unplugging those devices can save electricity. Do not worry about unplugging every gadget; simply plug what you can into a power strip so you can unplug less.
The real issue lies in other appliances that are constantly drawing power, like refrigerators, televisions, and devices plugged into outlets. Hot Water Heater: One of the biggest energy consumers when you're not at home is your electric hot water heater.
Running the AC unit full-time in our big house example would cost $7.39 per day for the efficient unit, or about $222 per month. For the less efficient unit, you're looking at $10.56 per day or about $317 per month. Not only that, but running all day is hard on your air conditioner.
According to the Department of Energy1, 78° Fahrenheit is the sweet spot for air conditioners to balance energy savings and comfort when people are at home and need cooling.
In Orange County, peak rates can go up to as high as $0.54 per kWh. Taking the example above, with the AC bill of $95.60/month, an increase of rate to $0.54 per kWh could cause your AC bill to go up to $224.64. That's a huge cost difference, so definitely make sure you understand your TOU rates, and plan accordingly.