Illustration: Dana Davis; Source: Adobe Stock

It can feel wrong to not turn off the AC when you leave the house. After all, the longer you leave it on, the higher the bill, no? No. Air-conditioner efficiency has come a long way—modern models use a lot less energy to maintain a steady temperature than they do to actively cool something down.

To find the most efficient way to run an AC, senior staff writer Thom Dunn—who has been testing at least a dozen AC units every year since 2019—ran a series of tests in three different apartments last month. As it turns out, the most efficient way to keep your home cool and the bills low is to leave the AC running.

The ideal temperature to keep it set at→

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When it’s OK to skip the dry-cleaner Even if the tag says otherwise→

Clear ice can make your drinks taste better Especially if your beverage of choice is a fizzy one→

Laundry detergent sheets are bad cleaners And their sustainability claims are dubious→

Illustration: Dana Davis; Photo: Connie Park

No, you don’t have to worry about turning the lights off to preserve the lifespan of the bulb or reduce the energy bill. Although this advice might have been true for incandescent bulbs, the US has moved onto other types of bulbs, which are much more efficient.

“While the principle of not wasting may be noble, the energy used is so minuscule as to be meaningless,” says smart-home editor Jon Chase.

Yes, you can leave the lights on→

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