My roommate leaves the AC on for 8 hours a day. How can I convince him to use it less?

Question

I really hope our electric bill isn't going to skyrocket.

This is what basically happened. He bought a 10,000 btu window unit for his room. It was too big for his room, so he put it in our living room. He doesn't have a job, so basically he sits on the couch all day either watching TV or using his laptop. He sets the AC to 70, leaves the fan on high, and leaves the AC on the "Cool" setting (not the Energy Saver setting).

I'm really worried that our electric bill is going to be super high (and something I can't afford). My roommate told me, though, since he bought the AC, I can't complain about the electric bill. WTF? I didn't even want an AC, and he never discussed purchasing one with me.

So help me out guys. What should I do? Help me talk to my roommate. Whenever I ask him to turn the AC down, he just turns it back up when I leave the room. I feel like I shouldn't touch the AC since it's his, but I sometimes I want to turn it down or shut if off right in front of him.

Answer 1

If he bought it without asking you or discussing it  Id say its his responsibility  not yours

Answer 2

When the bill comes (and it always does) and it is out of this world, drag out the most recent pre-AC bill.  Compare amounts.  Subtract the lower bill from the high and divide that amount in half.  Only pay that much.  The rest of the bill is his responsibility since he insists on running the thing all day long.

Answer 3

What a disrespectful ******. The bill is going to be insane. You are going to be pissed. Wow. Settle this before you get the bill and kick him out over it. HE is the one who bought the A/C, then HE is the one who pays the bill. If YOU are the one that is paying for the bill, YOU are the one that determines when it is on and when it is off. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

Answer 4

If you pay the majority of the electric bill, you should have some say about any large electronic devices that are being used. If your roomate isn't generous with paying the bill, and still refuses to turn the AC down, let the power get cut off for a couple weeks. That should change his mind. Either about helping with the utilities or with the settings on his AC. This sounds evil, but I have had to do this, and it really worked.

Answer 5

TURN IT ON LOW OR RIGHT OFF SAVE YA ON THE MONEY...............TELL HIM EITHER FIND A JOB OR NO AC.. THATS THE RULE.. TAKE THE AC OUT OF THE ROOM TILL HE FINDS A JOB...............UR GONNA HAVE A HELLA HIGH BILL TO PAY.

Answer 6

1. Threaten to kick him out! If he's going to be affecting your JOINED utility bill, but expects you pay for half of what is mostly his expenses... what's really the use!

2. Reason with him! Ask him how he would feel, if you left your computer on all day just idling!

3. Take charge, and just turn it off! When he askes why, tell him you've had enough........ and it's too chillly ;)

Answer 7

Honestly once that first bill comes in and he has to pay half, he will then realize what he is doing. I know living here (arizona) that wouldn't work so well with roommates. I think once that first bill comes in he will adjust. If not just tell him, i am kind of crunched for money right now and i think we should turn the air up a little bit, or not use it all day long. good luck.

Answer 8

Read the meter and figure out how much the bill is going to be.  Your last bill will show you the date it was last read and what the reading was on that day.  You take the difference and multiply it by the rate you are being charged.

Tell him what will be disconnected or shut off when you get the high bill.  Like no cable, no internet, no this or no that.  If he doesn't have a job and doesn't contribute to the electric bill then you have every right to complain about it.

You may have to suffer by having things disconnected, or I'd just throw him out and keep his AC to cover the bill.

Answer 9

well it WILL run your bill up, trust me i know, i live in a place where we dont have a choice but to run the a/c its up to 116 degrees here during this part of the year (phoenix AZ) so we have ours on 24 hours a day for the whole house. in our case its better to leave it on because it takes more power to cool the house back down after its gotten all hot inside then it does to just keep it at a regular temp. we keep our A/C at 80 degrees.

tell him 70 degrees is ridicules, its going to cost you a fortune and he needs to turn the damnd thing off. i dont care who bought the ac, if its raising your bills then you have every right to turn it off.

Answer 10

Only weak individuals need AC.  If the power grid failed they would perish.  Tell him he's paying the difference on next months bill.  If he doesnt agree, punch him out.

Answer 11

Ask him to pay a larger portion of the electric bill or turn off the AC.

It's fine if he really insists on having the AC on, but he should pay for whatever electricity the AC uses.