June 4, 2020
You shouldn’t have to sacrifice comfort or drain your wallet to keep your residence at the right setting during the summer.
But what is the ideal temperature, exactly? We discuss advice from energy specialists so you can determine the best setting for your house.
Here’s what we recommend for the most energy-efficient setting for air conditioning in Franklin & South Indy.
Recommended Thermostat Settings for Summer
Most families find placing the thermostat at 72-73 degrees is ideal. However, if there’s a big difference between your interior and outdoor temps, your utility bills will be bigger.
These are our recommendations based on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
While at home: 78 degrees. While that seems hot, there are ways you can keep your home refreshing without having the air conditioning running all the time.
Keeping windows and window treatments shut during the day keeps chilled air where it belongs—within your home. Some window solutions, such as honeycomb shades or plantation shutters, are created to give extra insulation and enhanced energy conservation.
If you have ceiling fans in your home, the DOE says you can move thermostat temperatures about 4 degrees higher without compromising comfort. That’s because they cool through a windchill effect. As they cool people, not areas, switch them off when you move from a room.
If 78 degrees still feels too warm at first glance, try conducting a test for a week or so. Get started by upping your thermostat to 78 degrees while you’re at your house. Then, steadily turn it down while following the suggestions above. You may be astonished at how refreshed you feel at a hotter temperature setting.
While away:88 degrees. There’s no rationale for keeping the air conditioner running all day while your home is vacant. Moving the temp 7¬¬–10 degrees hotter can save you an estimated 5–15% on your electrical expenses, according to the DOE.
When you come home, don’t be tempted to switch your thermostat below 78 to cool your residence more rapidly. This isn’t productive and usually leads to a bigger electricity expense.
A programmable thermostat is a useful way to keep your temperature in check, but you have to set programs. If you don’t set programs, you might forget to increase the set temperature when you take off.
If you’re looking for a hassle-free fix, consider installing a smart thermostat. This thermostat connects with your phone, so it is aware when you’re at your house and when you’re away. Then it intuitively modifies temperature settings for the best savings. How much exactly? About $180 yearly on heating and cooling, according to ENERGY STAR.
Another plus of installing a smart thermostat? You can use your phone to watch and change temperature settings from nearly anywhere.
While sleeping: Around 70 degrees. While ENERGY STAR suggests 82 degrees, that might be unpleasant for the majority of families. The majority of people sleep better when their sleeping area is chilled, so that’s why the National Sleep Foundation advises 60–67 degrees. But that may be too cool, due to your PJ and blanket preference.
We advise following a comparable test over a week, moving your temperature higher and progressively turning it down to locate the right setting for your family. On pleasant nights, you might find keeping windows open at night and running a ceiling fan is a superior option than operating the air conditioning.