I grew up in the southernmost part of this state During the 1970s.
Air conditioning at that time is not what it is today.
Nowadays, there are all sorts of amazing and improving HVAC technology, but back in those days there were really only two choices as far as AC is concerned. You could either have a window air conditioning unit, or you could have Central heating and cooling. We did have Central heating and cooling, but my mother didn’t make very much money after the death of my dad, so we had to save wherever we could. When you live in a really Southern place where the thermostat often reaches triple digits, and you don’t have a lot of money, you tend to learn tricks and techniques to make the best of it. Some good ways to keep the house cool without turning down your AC thermostat include the following. Number one, cover up the windows. Nothing beats blocking the Sun to give your air conditioner a break. If you can afford solar film for your windows, great. If you can’t, at least put room darkening curtains or even bedspreads over the windows so that your air conditioning can work less. Number two, get some shade. Planting shade trees that grow fast around your home will also cut down on the amount of work your air conditioner has to do. The last work your AC has to do, the less money it’s going to cost you. Number three, set your thermostat as high as you can stand it in the summer and as low as you can stand it in the winter. When you set your thermostat this way your air conditioning won’t come on as frequently, and in the winter your heater will not come on as frequently either. Where we live, it is easy not to have to use the heater in the winter!