A confounder I don't see mentioned in these comparisons is that turning AC/heat on when you arrive in a home means you are above/below the target temperature for X amount of time until it returns to your target temp. And the simplest way to save energy is to do exactly that, run it at a slightly less comfortable temp.
I live in Dallas. I noticed my AC struggles when temperatures are very high in the late afternoon. It also struggles with high humidity after a big storm. On those days the air is thick as soup.
I grew up on the east coast and grabbed the first job opportunity that arose to move to CA. The summers are dry, which also creates fire danger.
With the low humidity, I am OK with home temps up to 84F.
When power goes out, I have a Generac which runs off a propane tank, which also provides heating. Rather than tax it with the home a/c at those times, I have window units which cool one room at a time, to help with long outages.
Items demanding a cool but not cold temp (you guessed it, chocolate) migrate to the cool room.
I don't know what to suggest that might supplement your home a/c. I use so little electricity outside of my a/c that it is the one largest factor. Even time-of-day rates don't help. Rates would be less only when I draw minimal power. A non-timed rate is cheaper for me.
I toyed with the idea of a solar ground rack feeding only a "supplemental" heat pump, to be there when demand is highest. (roof panels are forbidden on manufactured homes, and I have acres. ). I would run it standalone, since the Generac automatically cuts out the grid when it's running, and managing a third source is a head-scratcher. But it's only a sketch, and probably not cost-effective. "Balcony" solar panels have been approved in some locations.
Good luck, however.
For what it's worth, the highest yearly total electrical costs in the country are in California's central valley [0] (2025) PG&E has more than a little to do with that burden.
> The City of Fresno has the highest electricity bills in the entire country on average, according to a study by CashNetUSA.
> The study says on average, Fresno households spend $3,123 a year on electricity alone, which equates to $260.25 each month.
A confounder I don't see mentioned in these comparisons is that turning AC/heat on when you arrive in a home means you are above/below the target temperature for X amount of time until it returns to your target temp. And the simplest way to save energy is to do exactly that, run it at a slightly less comfortable temp.
Addresses leaving the home.
Being retired, I rarely leave home (too hot!) but this article does not address a strategy I read about, pre-cooling.
That strategy is to cool the house early or late, when the a/c doesn't have to fight so hard. I tried it briefly, but didn't take notes.
I live in Dallas. I noticed my AC struggles when temperatures are very high in the late afternoon. It also struggles with high humidity after a big storm. On those days the air is thick as soup.
I grew up on the east coast and grabbed the first job opportunity that arose to move to CA. The summers are dry, which also creates fire danger.
With the low humidity, I am OK with home temps up to 84F.
When power goes out, I have a Generac which runs off a propane tank, which also provides heating. Rather than tax it with the home a/c at those times, I have window units which cool one room at a time, to help with long outages.
Items demanding a cool but not cold temp (you guessed it, chocolate) migrate to the cool room.
I don't know what to suggest that might supplement your home a/c. I use so little electricity outside of my a/c that it is the one largest factor. Even time-of-day rates don't help. Rates would be less only when I draw minimal power. A non-timed rate is cheaper for me.
I toyed with the idea of a solar ground rack feeding only a "supplemental" heat pump, to be there when demand is highest. (roof panels are forbidden on manufactured homes, and I have acres. ). I would run it standalone, since the Generac automatically cuts out the grid when it's running, and managing a third source is a head-scratcher. But it's only a sketch, and probably not cost-effective. "Balcony" solar panels have been approved in some locations.
Good luck, however.
For what it's worth, the highest yearly total electrical costs in the country are in California's central valley [0] (2025) PG&E has more than a little to do with that burden.
> The City of Fresno has the highest electricity bills in the entire country on average, according to a study by CashNetUSA.
> The study says on average, Fresno households spend $3,123 a year on electricity alone, which equates to $260.25 each month.
[0] https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/fresno-ele...