You shouldn’t need to sacrifice comfort or empty your wallet to keep your house at a pleasant temperature during warm days.

But what is the ideal setting, exactly? We review ideas from energy experts so you can choose the best setting for your family.

Here’s what we suggest for the most energy-efficient setting for air conditioning in Plover.

Recommended Thermostat Settings for Summer

Most households find setting the thermostat at 72-73 degrees provides ideal comfort. However, if there’s a huge difference between your indoor and exterior warmth, your electrical bills will be greater.

These are our suggestions based on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

While at home: 78 degrees. While that seems warm, there are approaches you can keep your home pleasant without having the air conditioner on constantly.

Keeping windows and blinds shut during the day keeps cold air where it needs to be—inside. Some window coverings, like honeycomb shades or plantation shutters, are made to offer more insulation and better energy conservation.

If you have ceiling fans in your house, the DOE says you can raise thermostat temps about 4 degrees hotter without compromising comfort. That’s since they cool by a windchill effect. Since they cool people, not rooms, turn them off when you exit a room.

If 78 degrees still appears too hot initially, try doing a test for a week or so. Get started by raising your setting to 78 degrees while you’re at your house. Then, steadily decrease it while following the ideas above. You might be shocked at how comfortable you feel at a hotter temperature setting.

While away: 88 degrees. There’s no need to keep the air conditioner running all day while your residence is unoccupied. Moving the temperature 7–10 degrees warmer can save you an estimated 5–15% on your cooling costs, according to the DOE.

When you get home, don’t be tempted to set your thermostat under 78 to cool your house faster. This isn’t effective and usually produces a more expensive cooling expense.

A programmable thermostat is a helpful method to keep your temperature under control, but you have to set programs. If you don’t use programs, you run the risk of forgetting to raise the set temperature when you leave.

If you’re looking for a convenient fix, consider installing a smart thermostat. This thermostat connects with your phone, so it is aware when you’re at home and when you’re gone. Then it intuitively modifies temperature settings for the biggest savings. How much exactly? Usually $180 yearly on heating and cooling, according to ENERGY STAR.

Another perk of installing a smart thermostat? You can use your phone to watch and change temperature settings from nearly anywhere.

While sleeping: Around 70 degrees. While ENERGY STAR advises 82 degrees, that may be unpleasant for the majority of families. Most people sleep better when their bedroom is chilly, so that’s why the National Sleep Foundation advises 60–67 degrees. But that might be too cool, depending on your pajama and blanket preference.

We advise following a similar test over a week, moving your thermostat higher and progressively decreasing it to choose the best temp for your residence. On pleasant nights, you might learn keeping windows open at night and running a ceiling fan is a superior solution than operating the air conditioner.

More Ways to Use Less Energy This Summer

There are added approaches you can conserve money on cooling bills throughout hot weather.

  1. Install an energy-efficient cooling system. Central air conditioners only are effective for about 12–15 years and get less efficient as they age. A new air conditioner can keep your residence comfier while keeping AC bills down.
  2. Schedule annual air conditioner tune-ups. Routine air conditioner maintenance keeps your system running properly and might help it work at better efficiency. It might also help prolong its life cycle, since it helps techs to pinpoint seemingly insignificant problems before they lead to a major meltdown.
  3. Replace air filters regularly. Use manufacturer instructions for replacing your air filter. A clogged filter can lead to your system short cycling, or run too often, and raise your cooling.
  4. Inspect attic insulation levels. Just about 90% of residences in the United States don’t have proper insulation, according to the Insulation Institute. The majority of southern climates need 13–14” of attic insulation, while northern climates need 16–18”.
  5. Have your ductwork checked. Ductwork that has separated over time can let cool air into your attic, walls or crawl space. This can lead to huge comfort issues in your residence, such as hot and cold spots.
  6. Seal cracks, doors and windows. Keep humid air where it belongs by plugging openings. You can also caulk or weather strip doors to seal more cold air indoors.

Conserve More Energy This Summer with Point Heating & Cooling

If you need to save more energy during hot weather, our Point Heating & Cooling professionals can provide assistance. Give us a call at 715-504-0533 or contact us online for additional details about our energy-saving cooling options.