Should I turn off my upstairs air conditioning during peak hours to save energy?

[dkmcd55]

I have a 2600 sq' home in Arizona. I have a 13 seer a/c system with two units. I havea second story of my house which is only a loft. Is is more beneficial for me to leave the thermostat off upstairs to conserve energy during the peak hours that my electric provider has from noon-7pm? Or is it better to kep my updtairs thermostat to like 85 degrees?

 

[russ_watters]

Welcome to PF.

I'm not clear on the second option. Is that 85 degrees only during peak hours or all the time?

Generally, any setback is a positive thing. The benefits aren't always huge because if the setback is only for a few hours, you'll just spend more energy later to bring the temperature back down - but still less total energy.

 

[dkmcd55]

Well what options do I have. My wife does not work and she likes it cold but I do not want to have a $500 electric bill. What options do I have?

 

[Drakkith]

Leaving the unused areas of the house at higher temps for at least a few hours should help. Also check and make sure you have good insulation in your house. Spending a few hundred dollars once can save you loads for years.