Atlanta, GA—June 1, 2010—The economy’s slow recovery means consumers are still watching
their pennies carefully. But it’s a potentially disastrous mistake to try to lower your utility bill by
turning off your air conditioner in the middle of summer.
“Air conditioning isn’t just about cool air,” says Michael Beuerlein, CIEC, CMRS, owner and
president of Eagle Indoor Air in Atlanta. “Your air conditioning unit, whether central or localized,
serves as a dehumidifier for humid outside air entering the home.”
Mold thrives in warm, humid environments, the kind created in the absence of air conditioning.
The modest amount you’d save by switching your air conditioner off while you’re at work or on
vacation is nothing compared to the cost of a serious mold remediation, which frequently
reaches into the thousands of dollars.
Tips for managing your air conditioning use to save money, conserve energy, and prevent mold:
- Keep your thermostat set on the high side—just don’t turn the unit off altogether.
78°F is considered an energy-conserving setting that still maintains comfort for people
inside the house. - 80°F is the recommended setting when you’re going to be away from home for a length
of time. - Make sure the fan is set to run only when the compressor runs (the “Auto” setting
rather than “On”) so that the fan doesn’t pull outside air into your house without
cooling and dehumidifying it first. - Monitor your home’s indoor relative humidity to make sure you’re getting enough
dehumidification from your air conditioner to prevent mold. An inexpensive humidity
monitor from a hardware store works just fine. The ideal reading is 35% to 55%;
readings above 55% are a signal that your house is too humid and you may be having air
conditioning problems. Mold growth typically begins at 60% relative humidity.