> I guess it gets back to equilibrium with outside temperature in a few hours once AC is turned off.

I've been in houses where we shut the windows as soon as possible after sunrise, as temperatures started increasing, and the house never caught up with the outside temperature - it was cooler all afternoon, cooler until sundown. No AC needed.

I think that tactic might work well generally. Just let in the cool air at night, shut the windows and trap it. At least you can save a good part of the day's AC. It's obvious, free, and simple, but I never see it discussed.