Question about cooling a house

So I am anti AC in my house. It is a 2 story house (1,800 sqft) and the top story gets quite warm. I have a fan in my room that I put on my window (http://www.lowes.com/pd_95021-1621-..._product_qty_sales_dollar|1&page=2&facetInfo=) that I run from basically 6pm to 830am the next day.

It keeps my room cool especially at night. Now one of my roommates has been complaining about how hot it is at night. Now first off, I charge my roommates $700 a month which includes utilities. In other words they dont have to worry about how much water they use or if they leave their lights on. I am now realizing after a couple years of doing it this way, that that was a bad decision. Last night I am woken up to the sound of my AC on. My roommate had turned it on.

In most cases I wouldn't have cared, especially if he asked me. He didn't ask, and all the windows down stairs and in the bed rooms were open (with the exception of his). I turned it off obviously and we got into it this morning about it.

I suggested we all split the utilities and he compained that he didn't want to pay for AC, its too expensive...funny he says that...

Ok so sorry for the long part above, my question is, what would be more efficient...have 3 of those box fans or running the AC at about 72 for the same amount of time?

 

When I live in San Diego, I did not have a/c, used a fan on each side of the house, one on the shaded side of the house blowing in one on the other side blowing out. The fans were on timers and came on one hour before I got home form work. Once home I shut them off and turned on the ceiling fans.

 

I have brand new dual pane windows, but they don't have tint on them and my blinds are brand new. they are the double cellular shades and are pretty dark already.

I've thought about the exhaust fan, but I have no attic. It would have to go from the ceiling straight onto the roof.

Maybe I just give a go out at running the AC and see what the damage is on the next bill...or even split just the electric/gas bill

 

Yeah I was just talking to my roommate about doing that..have one blow in and one blow out and it would make such a nice cross breeze

 

I would be hard pressed to believe you would spend more running the fans than the AC...but it won't be a cool as the AC.

If you aren't charging them for the $$ of power...It's kinda hard to tell them they can't flip the AC on. Having them check the windows and stuff- That's "common sense" if they want the AC on.

I think you gotta get out ahead of the power bill by changing the rental agreement and give in to the AC. And don't forget- 78 that is steady 78 is pretty decent (depending on the temps outside). It's 90+ all day here...and with brand new windows and insulation I keep the AC about 77 and it's nice to walk in the house most of the time.

 

how about you tell him on hot days when its 80 plus your willing to turn on the AC at night for better sleeping but in the day it stays off unless he is willing to contribut . take it or leave it.

 

The box fans would be much less expensive than the air conditioner, even though the fans would run continuously and the A/C would cycle on and off.