Running Air Conditioner All Night Can Cost Over $30 Monthly
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Running a small air conditioner all night in Israel can cost around 100 shekels ($30) per month, though inverter models may use less power. Setting thermostats very low increases consumption, while fans are significantly cheaper.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Running an AC all night can cost about 100 shekels ($30) monthly.
- Inverter ACs may use less power as they reach desired temperatures.
- Lowering thermostat settings significantly increases electricity use.
- Fans are a much cheaper cooling alternative.
- Ministry of Energy recommends 24-25 degrees Celsius for efficiency.
Leaving an air conditioner running all night can add approximately 100 shekels (about $30) per month to electricity bills for a small unit, with costs potentially higher depending on the specific appliance, room size, and required cooling intensity. The current domestic electricity tariff in Israel is 63.52 agorot per kilowatt-hour.
Calculations based on two small inverter air conditioner models show that running an 8-hour cycle at their peak cooling capacity would cost around 3.5 to 3.9 shekels per night, translating to roughly 105 to 117 shekels monthly. However, actual consumption may be lower because inverter units automatically reduce power when the desired temperature is reached.
Factors like larger rooms, poor insulation, or particularly hot nights can increase energy usage. Setting the thermostat to 16 degrees Celsius, while aiming for faster cooling, can lead to prolonged, intensive operation and higher costs. The Ministry of Energy recommends setting thermostats to 24-25 degrees Celsius in summer, estimating that each degree lower increases electricity consumption by about 5%.
Features like 'Sleep' mode, which gradually raises the temperature during the night, can help reduce energy use. For comparison, a 55-watt fan operating for eight hours nightly costs only about 8.4 shekels per month. The article concludes that while running a small AC all night can cost around 100 shekels monthly, inverter units may consume less, and setting the thermostat to extremely low temperatures does not offer free cooling.