cooling Load does affect A/C horsepower use; my dad had an 84 dodge 3500 van when I was a kid; when we painted the roof white not only did FE improve, but hill climbs were posable with cruise on (with A/C) that were not posable (without downshifts) on similar days before. I know poor data.
More data; my new central A/C draws ~2000 watts with the inside blower on low and ~4100 watts blower on 3 ton. (borrowed TED installed on exterior unit only).
In the TDI I can see a 3 hp difference (on
sgII) when changing blower speeds from low to high (more pronounced with variable displacement compressor).