You can save as much as 10% a year on
Lower Heating Costs
In the winter, lowering your thermostat by just one degree can reduce your energy bill by around 1% for each degree lower you set it, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
In practical terms, setting your thermostat to 64°F while you're away instead of leaving it at 72°F results in your furnace running less often, which translates into savings.
We're grateful to the DOE, EPA, and other government and industry organizations for making some valuable predictive models for heating and cooling. For example, the DOE's Energy Savers website says that you can generally save 3% on your heating bill for each degree that you turn your thermostat down during the winter.
Turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees.
For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range, you'll save an average of 3 percent on heating costs.
One great way to lower energy costs is to avoid cooling an empty house. This is especially true during the middle of the day. If everyone in your household is either at work or school, then turning the temperature to 78-80 degrees will save you a chunk of change when the energy bill arrives.
The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to around 68°F to 70°F while you're awake and setting it lower while you're asleep or away from home.
According to the DOE, setting your thermostat back 7°F to 10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting can help you save up to 10% in energy costs. This means keeping your thermostat around 78°F in the summer (higher when you're asleep or away) or around 68°F to 70°F in the winter (lower when you're asleep or away).
To save money, aim to have your temperature set around 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home and awake. This is a comfortable temperature for most with the help of a light sweater. Overnight and when you're out, around 64 degrees Fahrenheit will keep your home at a good temperature.
Keeping your home at a constant temperature generally means that your HVAC system will run constantly to meet it. This means that your furnace or air conditioner may run when you're asleep, at work, or out of the house. This wastes more energy than the minimal amount that you might save by having it constantly run.
U.S. Department of Energy research suggests that setting your programmable thermostat to 78 during the summer months is the best way to save money on your cooling costs while maintaining a comfortable temperature.
If you're cold even though your thermostat indicates you shouldn't be, your furnace likely isn't the problem. In most cases, it's working just fine. It's your home that needs attention. Lack of insulation, severe air leakage, and/or unbalanced ductwork are frequently to blame.
If you're wondering what temperature is best during the summer, you're not alone. You want to be comfortable, but also use an efficient temperature that doesn't potentially increase your energy costs. The best thermostat setting for summer is 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home.
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.
Lowering the temperature on the thermostat results in your central air system working longer and harder until the overall temperature of the home reaches the set temperature; it does not necessarily result in colder or faster air conditioning.
We started with what the experts say: each degree adds 3% to your cooling costs. Then, we took the average cost of cooling a home in Minnesota, which is about $95 per summer. With those numbers, we calculated that it costs about $2.85 to lower your temperature by one degree over the course of a summer.
Quick answer: The ideal house temperature is room temperature, which ranges from 68 to 78 degrees F, though this may vary from season to season. In winter, the average room temperature is generally 62 to 68 degrees, whereas in the summer, the average temperature is 72 to 78 degrees.
The World Health Organization recommends keeping indoor temperatures between 64 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit for healthy people. The minimum temperature should be kept above 68 degrees Fahrenheit to protect the very young, the elderly, or people with health problems. Watch out for signs of hypothermia.
68 to 72 degrees is a temperature range that is not too warm or cool, and is sufficient enough to warm up the home just enough so that everyone is comfortable regardless of the type of clothing they have on.
The Department of Energy estimates that if you perform setbacks for at least 8 hours, you can expect a 1% savings per 1 degree that the thermostat is lowered. So if the temperature is set back by 10 degrees during 8+ hour periods on a regular basis, savings of up to 10% can be expected annually.
Recommended Temperature When the Home is Vacant
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).
A low-temp thermostat gives the cooling system a head start. This will help to prevent Engine Detonation and overheating.
Turn the heat down when you go to work or leave for vacation, as well. This way, you lower your home's energy usage without allowing the pipes to freeze. You can save up to several hundred dollars a year just by doing this, plus you don't have to spend money on expensive repairs due to freezing weather.
In the winter, experts recommend that you set your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you're home, and 60 to 65 degrees when you're asleep or away. You can set it higher, but that will reduce efficiency and lead to higher energy bills.
Best AC Temperature Settings While You Are Home
As you consider the most comfortable room temperature for your lifestyle and family, keep in mind that for each degree that you set your thermostat above 72 degrees, you can save up to 3% on your energy bill.