Cool comfort

Then Cleary sat back and waited for the chance to crank that sucker up.

He’s still waiting.

“It’s just sitting there in the window, ready to go,’’ said Cleary, 62, sounding a bit wistful. “I knew we were in for cool weather, but I figured it would go away in a week or 10 days. It just never left.’’

No, it didn’t. So far, this has been the summer that wasn’t. The weather has left TV meteorologists groping for new ways to say “wet, windy, and cold.’’ But if the cold and rain taketh away (days at the beach, say, or dips in the pool), it also giveth.

Specifically, it gives homeowners and renters a big break on electricity bills. They have hardly, if at all, had to switch on their air conditioners for the past seven weeks. Window units have gathered dust in basements and attics. A cease-fire has replaced the thermostat wars that once raged in homes and offices. Electricity consumption in New England last month was 12 percent lower than in June 2008, reaching the lowest June level since 1998, according to ISO New England Inc., which operates the region’s grid. Erin O’Brien, ISO spokeswoman, said yesterday that it is primarily attributable to lowered use of air conditioners.

Even on sunny days like yesterday, the temperatures haven’t crept too high, making this a summer to throw open the windows and let fresh air take the place of conditioned air - and then count your savings.

To Sue Goldstein of Newton, it meant a June electricity bill that was nearly $200 lower than usual. To Andrew McCloy of Rockport, it meant he did not have to shell out $600 to get his minivan’s air-conditioning system fixed, plus another $50 McCloy saved by not using three window units at home. To Kent Chen of Lexington, who owns a pair of restaurants, it meant spending $1,600 less last month on air conditioning even though business increased sharply because the rain washed out customers’ barbecues and vacations.

And to Katy Lacy of Hull, it was a kind of sartorial blessing. “Every year, you’re dressed in some nice little summer outfit, and you’re sitting in your office freezing because the air conditioning is up so high,’’ said Lacy, 48, who is the town planner in Hingham. “It’s been so nice this summer. The air conditioning hasn’t been on as high, and you don’t need to put a big, bulky sweater on.’’

For many lifelong New Englanders used to hot summer nights, this summer has been a stunner.

At most, they have deployed the occasional fan to keep cool. At times, some have actually had to turn on the heat in their homes or cars.

Given that air-conditioning units are often an impulse buy prompted by scorching temperatures, a lot of units are sitting on store shelves. “We usually have a rush, but this summer we didn’t have any rush at all,’’ said Prabi Iyengar, a Sears salesman at Cambridgeside Galleria. “The weather is absolutely mild outside. We can get a rush if we get two or three days of 90 degrees-plus.’’

Which raises this question: Is this a mere summer fling with an AC-free lifestyle? Will the hum of air conditioners return when tropical temperatures do, or might New Englanders conclude that they can live free of AC, continuing to save some dough and living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle?

Goldstein, 52, fervently hopes it’s the latter. “I don’t want to use the air conditioning. I know how bad it is for the environment,’’ she said.

Others, though, doubt their willpower. “I will try to avoid using the air conditioner as much as possible,’’ said Kevin Cronin, 42, of Westborough, who has not taken his three air conditioners out of his basement. “But when the heat and the humidity kicks in, and you’re tossing and turning, you’ve got no choice. You’ve just got to turn it on.’’

Larry Marion was pleased to open up his electric bill two days ago and notice it was $100 lower than it would customarily be for a summer month. But “I don’t think we’re going to use less air conditioning once it gets hotter,’’ said Marion, who lives in Newton. “My wife and I both have home offices, and they’re on the second floor, and we have computers, laser printers, etc. that generate a lot of heat. For us to be comfortable, we have to have air conditioning.’’

Kathy Crowley of Hingham loves to camp and kayak, so the AC-free life has been right up her alley, but she expects to eventually have to lug her unit up from the basement. “I’m figuring that at some point it’s going to be 90 or 100 degrees,’’ said Crowley, 54. “We’ll wait until that day. We’ll see if it ever comes.’’

Today is not likely to be that day: After a period of sunshine, the forecast calls for clouds and temperatures dropping into the 60s at night.

Oh yeah, there may be a thunderstorm overnight, too.

Don Aucoin can be reached at Aucoin@globe.com.