Research by consumer financial company Advance America found that 19% of low-income Florida families making less than $50,000 a year said they sleep with their air conditioning turned off to save money. The same study found 27% of those families prioritized keeping the AC running but delayed paying other bills to do it. Air conditioning can account for upwards of 50% to 60% of a home's total energy bill, according to Florida Power & Light spokesperson Francine Freitas.
Daniel Iglesias said air conditioning in his home is carefully managed, but never fully turned off. His family keeps the thermostat at 77 degrees during the day and lowers it to 75 at night. Colby Bealer said it costs him a few hundred dollars to keep his home cool during the summer months, but he views it as a necessity he is unwilling to sacrifice. Maya Underwood, a teacher, said she stopped using her car during the summer and has already saved nearly $300 on gas.
Freitas said she does not recommend shutting off the AC overnight, noting that AC units actually run more efficiently during nighttime because they are not battling daytime temperatures heating up homes. FPL recommends raising the thermostat between 75 and 78 degrees, which can reduce monthly cooling costs by 3% to 5% for every degree. FPL recently launched a program called Saving Steps, which combines energy education with bill assistance, and eligible customers can receive a one-time $200 bill credit.