Use your thermostat to reduce your energy costs. During the hot summer months, air conditioning can use up valuable energy quickly if you don't use it efficiently. Wasted electric places unnecessary strain on the electrical grid — and your wallet. Turning your air conditioner on and off as you need it can save you money and reduce your impact on the environment. Step 1Turn your air conditioner off whenever you leave the space being cooled for a period of one hour or more. While it's become common belief that leaving the air conditioner on low at all times uses less energy than re-cooling a space that has become warm in your absence, it's not true. You will still save money by shutting the A/C completely as you leave and cooling the room again when you return. Step 2Set your thermostat on 78 degrees or higher whenever you leave the space being cooled (if you have a central cooling system). This ensures that you use the least amount of power possible while preventing a buildup of humidity.

For every degree the thermostat is raised, the air conditioner uses up to 5 percent less energy. When you return home, lower the thermostat and allow the system to cool the house normally without having to struggle to eliminate moisture. Step 3Raise the temperature on your thermostat or consider turning off the unit completely once the sun has gone down. With the greatest heat producer gone for the night, you can save a substantial amount of energy and money by using up the cold air your cooling system has pumped out during the daytime. By lightening the load on the system in the off-peak hours, you lessen the impact of its use all day. Tips References Leave Your AC On or Turn It Off?Arizona Power Service: Air ConditionersPublic Utility Commission of Texas: Conservation AlertsFlorida Solar Energy Center: How Else Can I Save Energy Use and Reduce My Electric Bills?U.S. Department of Energy: No-Cost and Low-Cost Tips to Save Energy This SummerChicago Tribune: Running AC Not Open-and- Shut Case Photo Credits Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images MORE MUST-CLICKS: How a Homemaker Saves Money How Much Money Do You Need to Save for a Comfortable Living?

What Are the Top 5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Bank? How to Save Money on Re-Roofing How to Save Money When You Live Paycheck to Paycheck How Much Money Can Be Saved From Using Solar Panels? How to Make Money on Savings How to Pay for My Daughter's College Books Will Buying Solar Panels Really Save Money? house ac unit freezing upCan Deferred Compensation Be Rolled Into a 401(k)?12 ton ac unit for sale We've got a central cooling air conditioner that was installed in 1984 with a thermostat from that same year. ac unit tonWe are replacing the thermostat with a new programmable one (which has a 100% compatibility guarantee). Following the instructions from Home Depot I located the circuit breakers for the unit and switched them off (the circuit breakers on the panel inside the house, not the main ones for the entire house).

The AC unit is still running and blowing cold air. Am I missing something here or could the breakers be broken? Or worse, could the unit be installed improperly? Feel free to point out the obvious. More info if it matters: We have a Trane central air unit with a heater pump and an emergency electric heater. We are in Central Florida electrical air-conditioning thermostat circuit-breaker You are missing something. Either you have not found the correct breaker yet, or the breaker is not inside the breaker panel for your house. Walk through each breaker in the breaker planel for your house. You could have a mislabled breaker. (The breaker you are looking for is likely a two-pole 240V breaker, maybe 30 amps or better.) Since this is a central cooling unit, it might be powered from its own breaker box. Follow the electrical supply wires (cable) back from the unit. Where does it go? You might find another breaker box dedicated to the cooling unit alone. There might also be a breaker in your meter box protecting the unit in addition to the main breaker for your house.

The two breakers (double pole breaker) labeled "Air Conditioner" are likely protecting some other 240 volt device in your house, such as a hot water heater, dryer, range, baseboard hearters, etc. You should probably find out what that breaker controls and label it correctly. Some AC units have an on-delay timer that prevents the system from turning on until 2 minutes after power is restored. I recently discovered the same issue, except I found that the idiots that wired up the AC units switched the wires with my neighbor's AC unit!!!!! My breaker turns off their AC unit! For 12 years I have been paying for their AC usage!Browse other questions tagged electrical air-conditioning thermostat circuit-breaker or ask your own question.There should be a disconnect in your panel box or at the outside unit. By turning it off over the winter, you will save energy. However, when you turn it on again in the spring or summer, do it at least 24 hours before turning on the cooling unit to give the oil time to warm and lubricate the essential parts upon startup.

A Sweet Way to Earn Up to $200* in Bill Credits This Year Earn up to $200* in bill credits with the sweet discount plan that makes it easy to conserve energy over the summer. Get started now to participate in Summer Discount Plan. Manage your plan to suit your preferences.. Summer heat can put a strain on electrical grids, so allow us to remotely turn off or cycle off your air conditioner (A/C) for a limited time. When you participate in the Summer Discount Plan, you save by voluntarily allowing us to shut down your A/C for up to 6 hours a day during “energy events” we may call during periods of  high electricity demand, or emergencies. We supply and install a device on your home or central-A/C unit to remotely shut it off during energy events. You can choose your level of participation from 4 options: Save more with our “standard” option, or choose the flexibility of our “override” option, which lets you opt out of up to 5 energy event days a year. Then decide between Maximum Savings (100% cycling) or Maximum Comfort (50% cycling.)

Maximum Savings Cycling: A/C may be shut off for up to 6 hours a day Maximum Comfort Cycling: A/C may be shut off for 15 minutes each half hour for up to 6 hours a day Save up to $200* Save up to $100* Save up to $50* Summer Discount Plan vs. Two of our most popular savings incentives are Summer Discount Plan and Save Power Days. Each offers a unique way to save energy and earn bill credits: Summer Discount Plan allows us to cycle off only your air conditioning during periods of high demand; Save Power Days gives you the option to reduce energy use during planned events by turning off or unplugging appliances. Occasionally we’ll call a Summer Discount Plan and Save Power Day event on the same day, which means you can save even more! Learn more about Save Power Days and enroll today to maximize your savings during the summer months. Credits on your electricity bill will be based on your current rate, the size of your A/C, which program you choose, and how much electricity you use.

Credit calculations are based on the accurate actual amperage for each air conditioner unit. The actual formula used is: Single Phase (Amps x Volts) / 1,400 + .09 = Tons. Your Summer Discount Plan bill credits will be automatically applied to your monthly statements between June 1 and Oct. 1, starting your bill cycle after we have installed, verified, and activated the cycling device(s) on your A/C. For further details, refer to these tariff schedules: Net Energy Metering (NEM) credits received under Schedule NEM may offset in whole or in part the program credits associated with the Summer Discount Plan. Ready to get started? Enroll Now or Already enrolled? Read our Terms & Conditions for the Summer Discount Plan. To be eligible to participate in the Summer Discount Plan, your central A/C system must be in good working order throughout your participation on the program. A 1-year minimum participation is required, with exceptions made under medical circumstances.

If you have any rooftop air conditioners, you will not be eligible for the “override” options. If you are a tenant, you are responsible for determining whether your property owner or manager’s approval is required for the installation and operation of the cycling device. If so, you are responsible for obtaining this approval prior to submitting your application to us. The Summer Discount Plan is not recommended for anyone with heat-related health issues. If you receive a medical baseline allocation for air conditioning under Schedule MB-E, you would also not be eligible to participate. Summer Discount Plan Energy Events Summer is a time to take a load off. That’s why our Summer Discount Plan remotely shuts off your A/C during energy events. We may call an energy event in response to emergencies, overworked electrical grids, high wholesale energy prices, or as part of testing. An energy event can happen at any time during the year, but will never last more than 6 hours a day (with the possible exception of a system emergency).

You can access information on energy events in progress at any time. Have questions about the Summer Discount Plan? Maybe you’re wondering if all your electricity shuts off in addition to your A/C (no), or if your A/C can be turned off more than once a day (yes), or if there’s a cost to join the Summer Discount Plan (no, it’s free!). For answers to these and other questions, please see our FAQs. *The estimated savings amounts represent the savings a resident could enjoy with a typical 4.5-ton central air conditioning unit. Savings could increase with larger units and decrease for smaller ones. Maximum credit amounts are subject to certain minimum usage requirements and vary by central air conditioner tonnage. Credits based on enrollment in program from June 1 to October 1. Enrollment after June 1 will result in prorated savings beginning from the first meter read date after your application is processed and your device is installed and activated. SCE may also cycle off your A/C for evaluation or testing purposes.

The credit amounts and program options are subject to change by the California Public Utilities Commission. Customers receiving a medical baseline allocation for air conditioning under Schedule MB-E are not eligible to participate in the Summer Discount Plan. Net Energy Metering (NEM) credits received under Schedule NEM may offset in whole or in part the program credits associated with the Summer Discount Plan. Participation in the Critical Peak Pricing rate may also reduce the maximum credit amounts. Such participation is subject to change, pending CPUC decision. This information is meant as an aid to understanding SCE’s Summer Discount Plan. It does not replace the CPUC-approved tariffs. Any inconsistencies between this material and SCE’s tariffs are unintended, and the tariffs prevail. Please refer to SCE’s Tariff Books for a complete list of terms and conditions of service. This program is funded by California utility customers and administered by SCE under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.