Beating the Heat on a Budget

Why staying cool is expensive

Thuy Ly no longer uses her air conditioner during the day even when it is more than 90 degrees outside.

"I just looked at the bill last week," said Ly. "I cannot use this much."

Ly and her husband have three children, but to save money, they are not turning on the air conditioning until 7:30 at night and turning it off early in the morning. Then Ly locks up the house.

"I keep the shades closed, I keep the lights off," said Ly, "I use mostly fans because I think it costs less."

Room and ceiling fans use a fraction of the energy required by a central air conditioner.

According to a room-by-room guide from San Diego Gas and Electric, central air costs between $1 to $2 an hour to cool a home.

That means for people who are running their air conditioners five and ten hours longer than usual, they could see a jump of hundreds of dollars on their bill.

SDG&E recommends mixing fans and air conditioners to keep cool.

The company suggests raising the thermostat from 72 to 78 degrees and running major appliances during off-peak hours.

As for tracking usage, Erin Coller with SDG&E said customers can sign up for My Account on the SDG&E website.

"You can actually track your energy use by the hour," said Coller. "You will see projections for how much your bill is expected to be at the end of the month."

As for Thuy Ly, she is drinking more water and adjusting to a house without air conditioning during the day.

"I do miss it, but I try," said Ly.

How do you stay cool on a budget? Share your favorite tips, experiences and gripes in the comment section below.

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