Nighttime Savings: When you're tucked into bed, your body's lowered activity level means you require less warmth. Lowering the thermostat by a few degrees during the night can lead to substantial energy savings without compromising your comfort.
A better idea: Turn the heat down, not off
Here's the secret: Set the temperature of your home at least eight degrees lower for the eight hours or so that you sleep at night. Every degree you lower the thermostat can net you an estimated 1% off your heating bill.
Ideally you should heat your home to a temperature of at least 18 °C. This is particularly important if you have reduced mobility, are 65 or over, or have a health condition, such as heart or lung disease. Having room temperatures slightly over 18 °C could be good for your health.
HVAC replacement companies recommend turning the temperature down by at least eight degrees before you go to sleep for eight hours or more, depending on how long you sleep at night.
60-67 degrees is the ideal temperature for winter nighttime for a comfortable night's sleep. If your house is too warm at night, it will affect your sleep and may result in causing fatigue. Since you'll be snuggled in blankets and covers, it makes it possible to make the house just a little chilly at night.
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.
There have been many reports from doctors that sleeping with the heating on all night can cause your body to overheat much more quickly. The Sleep Charity advises that an ideal bedroom temperature is 16-18 degrees celsius. Temperatures over 24 degrees celsius can impact your sleep and cause restlessness.
The Bottom Line
Turning down your thermostat at night or while you're away is a proven way to save money on your heating bills. By reducing your home's rate of heat loss and running your furnace less often, thermostat setbacks are an easy and effective energy-saving strategy.
The best winter thermostat setting is 62 to 68 degrees. On winter days, program your home's thermostat to 68 degrees for a comfortable indoor temperature while you're home and awake. When sleeping, program your thermostat to 62 degrees. Consider rolling this temperature back to 55 degrees when no one is home.
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. This is mainly because of problems with home insulation. If your house is old or draughty, for example, heat will be leaking out through windows and doors.
There may be drafts and pockets of colder air near the floor; The walls are colder and don't emit the usual amount of infrared radiation, so you lose heat due to your body emitting more IR than it receives; You may spend more time indoors and hence have less physical activity, so your body generates less heat.
Lowering the thermostat by 2-5°C from your daytime setting is a good rule of thumb. For example, if your daytime setting is 21°C, set it to 15°C-18°C at night for comfort and savings.
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.
Turn Down the Heat 7-10 Degrees Instead
Setting the thermometer eight degrees lower before you turn in at night may save you as much as $180 per year on your utility bill.
You would think when winter temperatures drop at night you'd want to turn the furnace up when you go to sleep, right? Not so fast. The U.S. Department of Energy says an indoor temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night is best.
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.
The ideal home temperature for sleeping is generally between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit -- and you might even sleep better because of it.
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.
Turning your heating off overnight may seem like a good way to save energy and money. However, when you turn your heating back on in the morning, your system has to work harder to warm up the cold space, which can actually use more energy and lead to higher energy bills.
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.
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.
Today's advanced heating and cooling systems are designed to offer whole-home comfort while being energy-efficient. The key lies in the energy-saving practice of lowering the thermostat by around 10-12 degrees Fahrenheit (or 6-8 degrees Celsius) during nighttime or when the house is vacant.
If your comfort is most important to you, then absolutely set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature (usually between 70-74), and leave it there while you are home and awake.