Does Using Less Air Conditioning Save Money?

It stands to reason that the more days you leave your HVAC system turned off, the more money you'll save in energy bills. I know that I truly enjoy having the windows open on breezy spring afternoons and on cool fall nights. In my house, there always seems to be a grudge match between the temperature outside and my stubborn insistence to keep the air conditioning turned off. Living in the Richmond, Virginia area, however, I usually lose that battle sometime around mid-May. The heat and humidity of a Richmond summer comes creeping in and before you know it, I'm sweating while watching prime time TV.