Setting your AC temperature higher can result in significant energy savings. Every degree you raise the temperature can translate to about 3-5% reduction in your energy consumption. This can make a noticeable difference in your monthly bills.
The Short Answer Is: Yes! Lowering a thermostat by one degree can save you money on your heating or cooling bills. The exact savings depend on factors like climate, insulation, and the efficiency of your HVAC system, but it's estimated to reduce energy costs by around 1-3% per degree for each 8-hour period.
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.
Setting your air conditioning to 72°F is generally considered a comfortable indoor temperature for many people. It strikes a good balance between comfort and energy efficiency, making it a popular choice for residential settings.
AC Becomes Smarter: when we. increase the temperature of AC, the AC gets more efficient when we set it to a higher temp. It's like it's saying, "I got this, no need to go crazy with the cold!" So, it's doing its job better without overworking.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78°F for a balance of comfort and savings. Smart thermostats can further optimize cooling, letting you increase temperatures while away and automatically cool the house when you return.
On average, an air conditioner running in good condition should take about 15-20 minutes to drop the temperature by 1 degree in a standard-sized room. However, factors like outside temperature, unit size, and insulation quality can affect this timing.
For many of us, 70 degrees is the ideal indoor temperature, but when it is close to 100 degrees outside, your AC unit will be working quite hard to meet these expectations. Consider setting your thermostat at 75 degrees to 80 degrees in your home if the outside temperature is approaching triple digits.
If the temperature is set to 74°F but the thermometer shows 78°F, you will have to recalibrate the thermostat to account for this 4-degree deviation. Even with older AC units or furnaces, you might have to recalibrate your thermostat from time to time.
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.
The human body can perceive a one-degree difference in air temperature, although most of us not aware of this sensitivity.
A 2-degree rise in global temperatures is considered a critical threshold above which dangerous and cascading effects of human-generated climate change will occur.
On the one hand, keeping a constant temperature can be more energy-efficient in some cases because your HVAC system doesn't have to work as hard switching between temperatures. However, this approach can also lead to wasted energy if you're heating or cooling your home when no one can enjoy it.
Most residential AC units can cool air to around 60-65°F (15-18°C), which is considered comfortable for indoor settings. However, specialized industrial or scientific systems can reach lower temperatures, potentially going as low as -60°F (-51°C).
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.
During a heatwave, we recommend that you don't lower the AC's setting below 68°F. This is already quite chilly for most people, and many would consider it too cold. An air conditioner set this low risk of its coil freezing—and that's bad news because it indicates that the air conditioner is overworked.
Your AC might not cool properly due to thermostat issues, an undersized unit, or extremely high outdoor temps—so check those first. Keep an eye on airflow—replace clogged filters every 3 months, and make sure vents and ducts aren't blocked for efficient cooling.
Check for dust, dirt, and other kinds of residue inside the thermostat. Excessive dust and dirt buildup can prevent your thermostat from working properly. Clean any residue you see on the thermostat, and see if that helps improve the temperature in your home.
The California Energy Commission recommends that homeowners set their thermostat to 78 degrees when they're home and 85 degrees when they're away from home during the summer.
Cooling a house from 80 to 72 degrees is a common goal for many, especially during the peak of summer. On average, this process takes roughly two and a half to three and a half hours.
The average summer temperature is around 71°F. In winter, this falls just a touch to 70°F. Here's a winter breakdown for thermostat settings across the U.S., according to the survey participants: 47% set it between 68°F and 71°F.
Here's the thing: It's normal for your AC to run continuously during hot summer months. You see, on extremely hot days—we're talkin' high 90s to 100s—your system needs to keep up with the incoming heat. To do that, it will run longer in order to maintain a constant, desired temperature in your home.
According to the US Department of Energy's Energy Savers website, lowering your home's thermostat by just one degree, can net a savings of 3% on your heating bill.
Dirty air filters are generally the culprit for most air conditioner problems. If your air conditioner is running all day long but not lowering the temperature at home, check your air filters. If they are dirty, simply swap them out for new ones.