Where I live the summer weather lasts all year around. The other three seasons each get about a month, maybe six weeks, but the remaining months are always damp, humid, and overly warm. I know that up north you guys have actual cold weather to deal with, but the lowest temps of the year down in the deep south can be as tepid as the mid-50s. It is common to spend the Christmas holiday season in flip flops and shorts, because it never gets cold enough for anything else. This does save a lot of expense on heating, but means that we rely on air conditioning for eight or nine months out of every year. When you have to use the AC that much, two things are important to remember – always get the annual HVAC inspection, and spend the extra money for a nice smart thermostat. If your air conditioning is running poorly, then you are paying more money for less cooling. That is money you can’t afford to lose! As for the smart thermostat, it has a great many money-saving applications, but one of the best is that it lets you know when the system isn’t functioning efficiently. It may not be able to diagnose the problem, but it will let you know when it’s time to call for an HVAC tech. Aside from that, the smart thermostat also reminds you when to change your air filters. By regulating your indoor temperatures, a smart thermostat will reduce your monthly energy consumption, and save you a lot of money in the long term.