Having air conditioning at home is a luxury that keeps people comfortable during the hottest months of the year, and it’s debated whether the AC should stay blasting or be turned off when people head to work during the day. Some swear that turning off the AC when they’re gone for a few hours is the most energy-efficient, costing-saving method. Others say it’s better to leave it running continuously, preventing the system from straining to rapidly cool the house down after the home has gotten warmer throughout the day. Three experts interviewed by The Associated Press agreed that setting the thermostat a few degrees higher than normal while you’re away is generally the best way to balance energy efficiency against comfort and humidity. While turning an AC unit off for several hours and turning it back on typically saves money and energy compared to continuously running it, that approach can lead to mold problems in humid environments as well as wear and tear that can cause more frequent repairs. The equation can also vary depending on other factors including comfort level, AC unit type and building insulation. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, adjusting your thermostat by 7-10°F (4-6°C) for eight hours a day can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling. Experts say there are a lot of factors to consider when deciding what AC habits save the most energy and money. In some climates, turning off the AC might not be feasible, so residents can set back their AC a few degrees instead of blasting cold air all day. In dry places like Arizona, you can let the home warm up more by raising the thermostat a few degrees higher. But in humid climates like Florida, air inside the home can become damp and harder to cool, and turning the AC off for long periods can increase the risk of mold since the system helps control indoor moisture. Bumping up the thermostat by 1°F (0.6°C) yields about a 3% savings in cooling costs. Homes built with heavy materials like concrete or brick hold in cool air longer, while older, draftier houses heat up faster. In less insulated homes, it makes sense to adjust the thermostat even if you’re stepping out for just a few hours, because the indoor temperature can rise quickly. Whether you have a window unit, a smart thermometer or central air could influence your savings. Window units are generally less efficient because they’re installed in an open window, making it difficult to seal out hot air completely. Smart thermostats are a handy tool to remove the mental burden of tinkering with your manual thermostat multiple times a day. Smart thermostats “learn” by monitoring the occupancy with a sensor and raise the temperature when no one is home to conserve energy and lower it when people return. Each expert said simple steps like blocking sunlight can go a long way in keeping homes cool, such as opening windows at night when it’s cooler. In dry climates, that night air doesn’t add much moisture, but in humid regions it can bring in dampness the AC will later need to remove. Closing your blinds can make a difference of several degrees.