In general, 80 degrees is too hot for a house if people are inside. However, if people aren't home during the day or for vacation during the summer, an indoor temperature of 80 degrees can save energy until you return and lower the temperature.
Whenever you're not at home or are asleep, consider increasing the temperature to between 78 and 80 degrees for even further savings. It's advisable to keep your home below 80 degrees throughout the summer. A house that's too warm can be dangerous to people, pets, and the soft surfaces in your home.
When temperatures exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside, setting your air conditioning (AC) to around 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit is generally considered efficient. Here are some reasons for this recommendation:
Sleep experts believe the best temperature for great sleep is between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. But in addition to making you uncomfortable and interfering with healthy sleep patterns, being too hot at any time of day or night can cause health risks like dehydration and heat stroke.
For short periods of time away, like going to work, we'd recommend a temperature of around 55 – 60 degrees (F). While away on long periods of time, such as vacation, we don't recommend setting the temperature any lower than 50 degrees (F).
An influential limit. After an influential study in 2010, climate researchers often use a wet bulb temperature of 35 degrees C — roughly equivalent to 95 degrees F at 100% humidity — as an upper limit for human survival and adaptability without cooling.
Tips for Keeping Cool During Sleep
A cool or lukewarm bath or shower can help with that, suggests Raymann. For most people, the temperature in the bedroom at night should not exceed 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and it should be even lower for people that sleep best in a cool bedroom.
According to these federal guidelines, during the summer you should set your thermostat at 85F during the day when no one is home. They also recommended setting your thermostat at 82F at night.
Sleeping too hot
“Heat is a huge disruptor for REM sleep,” Dr. Drerup says. With the heat of the room, your body temperature will also rise, thus undoing the sleep initiation process entirely. If your bedroom temperature is above 70° F, it's too hot.
Just because the outdoor temperature is above 100, the Ideal temperature to set your AC unit to doesn't change — it's 78 degrees. Higher temperatures in the home are to be expected when the weather is hotter than usual, but your thermostat can still be set the same as if it were a lower temperature outside.
For the most efficient performance, set the thermostat 20 degrees lower than the temperature outside. On a 100℉ day, set it to 78℉ to 80℉ to manage utility costs. If there's a lack of airflow, the filter may need to be changed or AC vents cleaned. But it may also mean your air conditioner needs professional repair.
It's a common frustration: stepping inside your home only to find it hotter than the outdoor temperature. This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors, from poor insulation and ductwork to clogged air filters and inefficient windows.
Home Damage Caused by High Heat
Roof: Rising temperatures in attics and top floors of the home can bring dampness and moisture, resulting in early deterioration of roof shingles. Flooring: High heat expands floorboards and causes them to warp. Hardwood flooring is especially susceptible to heat damage.
The best room temperature for sleep is approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 degrees Celsius). This may vary by a few degrees from person to person, but most doctors recommend keeping the thermostat set between 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 20 degrees Celsius) for the most comfortable sleep.
Most sleep specialists recommend people sleep in a “cool, dark and quiet environment,” typically ranging from about 65 to 75 degrees, said Ronald Chervin, the division chief of the sleep disorders centers and professor of sleep medicine at the University of Michigan, who was not involved in the study.
But did you know that you can suffer heat stroke indoors as well as outdoors? Prolonged exposure to temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, no matter the location, can cause the body's natural cooling system to fail.
People aged 65 years or older are more prone to heat-related health problems. Stay cool and hydrated during hot weather. Older adults do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature. They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.
What should my AC be set at if it's 90 degrees outside? If the outdoor temperature is 90 degrees, it's recommended to set your thermostat between 75-78 degrees.
The suggested temperature setting by Energy Star is 85 degrees when no one is home. However, if you live in a region of the country with consistently high humidity levels, consider setting the thermostat closer to 80 so your HVAC system doesn't run as frequently.
The US Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78 for optimal comfort. They recommend 85 when you're away from the house and 82 when you're sleeping. FOR REAL.
CALIFORNIA OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS BOARD
Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment. (a) Scope and Application. (1) This section applies to all indoor work areas where the temperature equals or exceeds 82 degrees Fahrenheit when employees are present.
The Egyptian Sleep Method is pretty simple: sleepers wrap themselves in a wet towel when it's too hot to slumber comfortably. This trick supposedly dates back to ancient Egypt when they didn't have the modern conveniences to help them with the high temperatures.