We’ve all heard it before: – Air conditioners “work” harder when they’re cooling down your house after a hot day … But it’s false. (Thanks for clarifying, MNN!) According to Energy Star:

Smaller temperature differences between your house and outside generally means you’ll lose less heat (or air conditioning) from inside the house to the outside. Therefore, you will save energy by only heating or cooling as much as necessary, for the occupants and time of day.

So what’s the best strategy for cooling your house during these -hotter-than-a-ghost-pepper temperatures? It’s actually a good idea to turn off your air conditioning when you leave the house for an extended time (or if it’s superhot, turn the thermostat up several degrees higher until you get home.)

Another idea? A programmable thermostat can cool (or heat during the winter) your home 30-60 minutes before you get home so the temperature is JUST right when you arrive. You can save an average of $180/year!

Photo: MPR

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher