[elhigh]

If your AC guy won't go for the multispeed systems, dump him. You're close to a big city, there's plenty of AC contractors that will do the work. Louisiana is so hot, so humid that AC isn't a luxury as much as it is a life safety feature there. There's bound to be someone that will take the job.

I do some AC around here, read up on the websites for the AC manufacturers. You could do a lot worse than a mini-split system, some of the SEER ratios will blow your mind.

Also: if you have a hot space that adjacent to conditioned space, now someone - think it's Rheem - is building a heat pump water heater. It looks like a regular water heater with a coil hat, really tall. Rheem recommends placing it in an attic, getting hot water plus a cool attic, cool roof and cool ceiling all on the same bill. Can't hate that. Works like a regular resistance water heater when ambient drops too low.