Does it ever make sense to have the window open with AC on?
Does it ever make sense to have the window open with AC on?
Say it's 25C outside and 30C indoors. I want to bring the indoor temp down to 25C, but opening all the windows barely makes a dent. Does it make sense to have the AC turned on and set to 25C while I have the windows open? Or should I be closing them anyway?
If it's cooler outside than in, then in general opening the windows and having the AC on will cool things off faster than just one or the other.
Caveats might include the AC output being near a window and it being cooler inside near the window, or humidity. But absent that, sure, both will cool it down faster.
Once the inside temperature drops below outside, though, probably want to close the windows or turn off the AC.
I'd also add that if your AC has a ventilation-only mode that can pull outside air in --- a window unit or ducted unit probably does, split mini won't, portable may not --- that'll help cool the inside and be more energy-efficient than running the compressor, if you don't care about getting inside colder than ambient temperatures. Might also consider putting a box fan in a window or two, which could also drastically increase air turnover rate.
I live in a pretty comfortable climate and normally always have an open window and a small fan near the ceiling blowing air out the window, to have more airflow than would normally be the case with purely-passive ventilation.
If you're in an environment that doesn't get much humidity --- the Southwest in the US is a good example --- you might also consider an evaporative cooler, which won't give you the potential very cold temperatures of an air conditioner (given enough power), but will cool things below ambient temperatures without needing much power.
On your point about drawing air in with the ac, most people without ac will try to use fans to achieve the same thing, often trying to run a fan from one open window aimed at another to pull air through the house. If you have multiple stories opening upper windows and blowing air out while pulling air in through lower windows is also effective. Adding a fan to blow air up the stairs can also help.