Karen I couldn't live healthy without a/c. I have it on day and night when it's needed. We have had a very hot and humid summer here in NJ and I get physically ill when it's that hot so yes, I need the a/c. When we have a cool day which hasn't happened much this summer, I do open windows and Autumn loves that. Unfortunately most of this summer the windows have been closed, I just can't take the heat.