[zeroxp]

Raising the temperature during a heat wave is the same as increasing the threshold where the ac unit kicks in. So instead of all these ac units clicking on to cool off houses at any temp above 70 degrees, the ac units click on at 80 degrees. That change saves a ton of energy.

[MisterBastahrd]

One of the things I do during the year is set the AC according to the outside temperature. During the winter months, my house is set to 70 degrees. As the average outside temperature rises, I increase it by 2 degrees for every 10 from 60. So when it's 100 degrees outside, it's 78 indoors. I have an older unit and watched in horror last year as it struggled and failed to cope with 110 degree temperatures.... I basically just gave up, shut it down, and waited until night time to turn it back on.