I have heard different things about this. Some people say that it is better to get your apartment cool and takes less energy to maintain the cool, because if you are turning it on and off a lot, more energy is used to cool it down from say 85 to 72 repeatedly than it takes to just maintain 72. Others say turn it off when you are not home… so is there a time when it makes more sense to leave it on? Obviously if you leave for a week, you should turn it off, but what about my 8 hour work day?
Here are the physics, if it matters:
Apartment is 1200 square feet.
Location is Baltimore.
Set point is 74 degrees.
A/C unit is 1/3 HP… don’t know the efficiency.
I wouldn’t turn it off but it would be a good idea to turn it down.
Here’s an earlier thread, which in turn links to yet an earlier one:
I’d go with a 4-6 degree differential, as in turn the setpoint up to 78 or 80 while you’re gone, and crank it back down upon your return.
Buy a simple programmable thermostat and set it at 80 while you’re at work and have it go to 74 30 minutes before you get home. Same thing in Winter with heat. Mine is set at 68 when I am at home, but I have it set at 60 while I’m gone or sleeping.
I also vote for setting it a bit higher, rather than completely off.
You should also close the blinds on the windows that get a lot of afternoon sun. That will make a big difference.