You shouldn’t have to give up comfort or empty your wallet to keep your home at a pleasant setting during the summer.
But what is the ideal setting, exactly? We review advice from energy professionals so you can choose the best temp for your house.
Here’s what we suggest for the most energy-efficient setting for air conditioning in Ballwin and St. Charles.
Recommended Thermostat Settings for Summer
Most households find setting the thermostat at 72-73 degrees provides ideal comfort. However, if there’s a sizeable difference between your inside and outside temperatures, your utility expenses will be bigger.
This is our advice based on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
While at home: 78 degrees. While that seems hot, there are ways you can keep your home refreshing without having the air conditioning going constantly.
Keeping windows and curtains down during the day keeps chilled air where it should be—indoors. Some window solutions, including honeycomb shades or plantation shutters, are created to deliver added insulation and better energy efficiency.
If you have ceiling fans in your residence, the DOE says you can increase thermostat temperatures about 4 degrees warmer without giving up comfort. That’s because they refresh by a windchill effect. Because they cool people, not rooms, switch them off when you leave a room.
If 78 degrees still appears too hot initially, try doing a trial for about a week. Begin by upping your thermostat to 78 degrees while you’re at your house. Then, steadily turn it down while adhering to the suggestions above. You might be astonished at how cool you feel at a warmer temperature setting.
While away: 88 degrees. There’s no reason to keep the AC working all day while your house is unoccupied. Moving the setting 7¬¬–10 degrees higher can save you anywhere from 5–15% on your air conditioning costs, according to the DOE.
When you come home, don’t be tempted to put your thermostat under 78 to cool your residence more quickly. This isn’t useful and often leads to a higher air conditioner bills.
A programmable thermostat is a helpful approach to keep your temp under control, but you have to set programs. If you don’t utilize programs, you might forget to raise the set temperature when you take off.
If you need a hassle-free resolution, think over installing a smart thermostat. This thermostat links with your phone, so it is aware when you’re at your residence and when you’re gone. Then it intuitively adjusts temperature settings for maximum savings. How much exactly? Typically $180 each year on heating and cooling, according to ENERGY STAR.
Another plus of installing a smart thermostat? You can use your phone to monitor and regulate temperature settings from nearly anywhere.
While sleeping: Around 70 degrees. While ENERGY STAR advises 82 degrees, that could be unpleasant for many families. Many people sleep better when their bedroom is chilly, so that’s why the National Sleep Foundation suggests 60–67 degrees. But that could be too chilly, depending on your clothing and blanket preference.
We advise using a comparable test over a week, putting your temperature higher and steadily lowering it to locate the right setting for your family. On pleasant nights, you might learn keeping windows open at night and running a ceiling fan is a preferable idea than running the AC.
More Ways to Conserve Energy During Hot Weather
There are additional approaches you can spend less money on utility bills throughout warm weather.
- Buy an energy-efficient cooling system. Central air conditioners only are effective for about 12–15 years and become less efficient as they become older. An updated air conditioner can keep your home cooler while keeping electricity
costs small. - Schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance. Regular air conditioner maintenance keeps your unit operating properly and could help it work more efficiently. It can also help prolong its life span, since it helps technicians to discover little troubles before they cause an expensive meltdown.
- Change air filters often. Follow manufacturer instructions for switching your air filter. A dusty filter can result in your system short cycling, or switch on and off too frequently, and increase your utility
bills. - Measure attic insulation levels. Almost 90% of homes in the United States don’t have proper insulation, according to the Insulation Institute. The majority of southern climates should have 13–14” of attic insulation, while northern climates should have 16–18”.
- Have your ductwork checked. Ductwork that has separated over the years can let cool air into your attic, walls or crawl space. This can create major comfort troubles in your residence, like hot and cold spots.
- Seal cracks, doors and windows. Keep hot air where it should be by sealing cracks. You can also caulk or weather strip doors to trap more cold air inside.
Conserve More Energy This Summer with Air Alliance Team
If you need to conserve more energy during hot weather, our Air Alliance Team experts can provide assistance. Give us a call at 636-206-4250 or contact us online for more details about our energy-efficient cooling products.