Air conditioning specialists clarify one of the most widespread summer myths and share the keys to reducing electricity costs without sacrificing comfort at home

MEXICO.- With the arrival of high temperatures in several areas of the country, people are looking to stay cool without spending a lot of electricity, to avoid a high electricity bill. Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), and there are some myths that claim to help save energy, but they are debunked by experts.
One of the most widespread beliefs is that Leaving the air conditioning on throughout the day saves energysince it avoids constant startups of the equipment, but experts indicate the opposite.
Air conditioning specialists assure that this idea is not correct in most homes and explain the most efficient way to use these devices.

According to information published by the newspaper El Español, industrial engineer Jorge Morales de Labra, pointed out that Keeping the air conditioning running continuously does not automatically save electricity.. On the contrary, in many situations it can represent an unnecessary expense.
The myth of always leaving the air conditioning on
Each family adopts different measures in order to save and some choose to maintain a stable temperature for hours or turn off the equipment when the room has reached a comfortable thermal sensation.
Others are more inclined to leave it running permanently because they believe that each ignition causes excessive consumption of energy or generates significant wear and tear on the device.
In this regard, Specialists explain that modern systems are designed to adapt to the needs of the user and they can be turned on and off without this representing an operating problem.
According to the expert industrial engineer, In a conventional home there is no energy advantage for keeping the equipment operating for long periods when refrigeration is not really needed.

What consumes less energy?
The general recommendation is use the air conditioning only when necessary.
This means that, Once a comfortable temperature is reached, the user can turn off the equipment and turn it on again if the heat returns. In this way, the system is prevented from continuing to work at times when it does not provide benefits to the comfort of the home.
The logic is that The longer the equipment remains on, the greater the electrical consumption.. Therefore, cooling empty spaces or unused rooms represents an expense that can be avoided.
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Not all systems work the same
Experts also warn that Not all air conditioning systems operate under the same conditions.
There are equipment with different levels of thermal inertia and specific technologies which may require different use strategies. Therefore, recommendations may vary depending on the type of installation.
Even so, The general rule is still to avoid running the system for hours when there is no real need refrigeration.

The ideal temperature to save electricity
One of the factors that most influences energy consumption is the selected temperature.
Specialists recommend programming the air conditioning between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius during the summer. Setting it below that range can increase power consumption by 6% to 8% for each additional degree of cooling.
Besides, They advise that the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures does not exceed 12 degrees Celsius.since this helps optimize equipment performance and avoids unnecessary efforts.
Practical tips to spend less with air conditioning
In addition to using the equipment only when necessary, There are other measures that can help reduce energy consumption:
- Choose equipment with high energy efficiency
- Use the ECO mode when available
- Schedule schedules operating
- Take advantage of auto shut-off features overnight
- Avoid cooling rooms that remain empty
- Keep filters clean and perform the maintenance recommended by the manufacturer
So should it be turned off or left running?
For most homes, Specialists agree that turning off the air conditioning when it is not needed is usually more efficient than keeping it running continuously. Today’s systems are set up to operate flexibly and respond quickly when temperatures rise again.
The key is not to leave the device on all day, but to use it intelligentlyadjusting its operation to the real needs of each moment. This makes it possible to maintain a comfortable temperature and, at the same time, avoid unnecessary electricity consumption.
