Bottom line. Overall, keeping your heat set to 68°F to 70°F during the day, and 7°F to 10°F lower when you're not home, is the best way to save on heating costs.
You don't need to leave the furnace on all winter long to save money on your energy bills. In fact, you can save more money if you turn the heat off and on based on need.
It is cheaper to turn off the heat while you are gone. Re-heating from a lower temperature is more economical than maintaining a set temperature.
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.
It's almost always cheaper to put the heating on when you need it for just the rooms you are using, and then turning it off. You're aiming to stop rooms becoming cold and damp, so when it's really cold, and you put the heating on, you might want to have it on low in unused rooms for a couple of hours.
The cheapest time to put the heating on tends to be during off-peak hours when your local energy rates are lower. The specific time may vary depending on your energy provider and location, but generally, off-peak hours are overnight and during the early hours of the morning.
To save money on heating, the Department of Energy recommends turning your thermostat from 68°F to 70°F while you're awake and even lower when you're sleeping or away from home.
Strategies for Lowering Your Monthly Heating Bills
Although turning your heat on and completely off frequently can raise energy bills, you can actually save a lot of money by turning your heat down when you are not at home and keeping it at a reasonable temperature when you are.
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.
Yes, open doors are generally better in winter to maintain a consistent temperature. They allow your heating system to distribute warm air evenly across rooms, improving comfort and efficiency while preventing energy waste.
Generally, it's useful to have your heating come on around half an hour before you get up in the morning. Then, have turn it off again around half an hour before you go to bed. If you're planning on being out of the house, you can turn the heating off while nobody's in.
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.
Unless your house is very well insulated, keeping your heating on low all day is usually unnecessary and will cause your heating bills to soar.
According to the World Health Organization, the ideal indoor temperature for healthy people is between 64 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. People who are very young, very elderly or who have health conditions should be able to access temperatures 68 degrees or warmer to help them retain heat.
Ultimately, there are very few situations where shutting off your system will lead to lower utility bills or savings. That's because adversities and potential damage usually arise when you power off your furnace. During winter, it's especially risky to keep your furnace off for any period.
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.
A temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit is often considered the best temperature to set thermostat in winter to save money. But why is 68 degrees the best winter thermostat setting? In winter, heat loss through walls, windows, and doors is a significant contributor to energy wastage.
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.
According to the experts at the Energy Saving Trust, the idea that you can save money by keeping your central heating permanently on low is a myth.
Or better yet, “What is the most energy saving temperature to set my thermostat at?” According to ENERGYSTAR.gov, the ideal home temperature should be between 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
While there are occupants in the house, it is advised for homeowners to set their thermostats between 68 and 72 degrees to promote maximum comfort. A pleasant temperature for everyone in the house, regardless of the apparel they are wearing, is between 68 and 72 degrees, which is neither too warm nor too cool.
According to the DOE, reducing the thermostat setting by 7-10 degrees for 8 hours every day can reduce your average heating bill by up to 10%. Drop the temperature as low as you can without impacting pets and plants; this could be anywhere from 60 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
1. Gas boiler. A gas boiler is still the cheapest way to heat your home when comparing various heating systems, especially when analysis the latest figures from Ofgem. As of December 2024, the cost of gas is 6.24p per kWh, a 10% increase on the previous quarter, and still higher year-on-year.