By Jordan Watts
It’s a precarious balance, setting the thermostat in the summer. On the one hand, Texas heat will have anyone ready to melt; on the other, we’ve all seen the insane cost of running the AC 24/7. What’s a girl (or guy) to do?
Not to fret! As your local energy expert we’ve got a few tips and tricks to help keep your home cool and your electricity bill cooler this summer— starting with what the best temperature for your thermostat actually is.
Just like the temperature outside fluctuates depending on the time of day, so do our recommendations for your thermostat. Additionally, if you’re planning to go out of town there are different recommendations to help you conserve energy when comfort isn’t a priority.
Officially, the US Department of Energy recommends an ideal thermostat setting of 78°F during the day as the ideal thermostat temperature for summer. If that sounds toasty, you’re not alone. To find a better balance of comfort and energy efficiency, the recommended temperature to set your thermostat is somewhere between 74°F and 78°F.
Each degree above 72°F can save you around 3% on your cooling costs, so minor adjustments to your indoor temperature make a real difference on your electricity bill. Remember, no amount of savings is worth your health. Make sure that when you adjust your thermostat, you are being realistic about what your body can handle and prioritizing comfort to some degree.
Additionally, you can save by keeping your home warmer when you’re away for a couple of hours. To save up to 10% on AC costs, set your thermostat to an ideal thermostat temperature of 85°F–88°F while you’re out. Just make sure that you’ll be gone for more than 2 or 3 hours, otherwise this can backfire if your air conditioner is working hard to cool the indoor temperature down again after you’ve been outside for only 20 minutes.
Again, when it comes to setting your thermostat before bed, it’s important to balance energy efficiency and comfort. While the US Department of Energy recommends 82° for sleeping in the summer, that’s just not realistic for most of us. In fact, the National Sleep Foundation recommends a temperature no warmer than 72°.
If 72° is still too warm for you, that’s okay! You can have your beauty sleep and still save. Night time cooling is more energy efficient since the difference between the outdoor temperature and your indoor temperature is smaller, so you can definitely lower your sleeping temperature a bit. We recommend somewhere between 68° and 72° to get the best sleep and savings.
Pack your bags! It’s time for summer vacation! Just make sure that you’ve adjusted your thermostat temperature to maximize savings while away. The ideal thermostat setting when you’re on vacation is typically between 80 and 85°, which helps reduce air conditioning energy consumption and keeps your home from getting too humid.
Adjusting your thermostat by 7-10°F from its normal setting for at least 8 hours a day can save you up to 10% a year on your cooling and heating bills, making this the ideal thermostat temperature for energy efficiency and appliance protection while you’re away.
If you want to stay cool this summer but are terrified to touch the thermostat, we’ve compiled some extra tips to help.
Natural lighting is all the rage until it turns your office into a sauna. Closing the blinds to keep the sun out can help keep your home cool during summer months without much effort. You can also purchase thermal window film for windows that face southward and receive the most sun exposure to block UV and keep heat out and cool air in.
Unfortunately, checking some chores off your to-do list today will probably mean a cooler home this summer. By keeping up with regular HVAC system maintenance, changing your filter monthly, and making sure all ductwork is properly insulated you can ensure your AC is running at maximum efficiency.
While fans don’t actually produce cold air, they can make a room feel up to 4 degrees cooler for people by creating a cool breeze. They also use a lot less energy than the AC so feel free to turn up the speed and capture your windblown movie moment for cheap.
Additionally, adjusting your ceiling fan to spin counterclockwise not only creates a cool breeze but also improves energy savings by allowing you to set your thermostat higher. Just remember to turn fans off when leaving the room to save energy.
We’re not here to judge but summer in Texas is not the time for jeans and a sweater. Make sure that you’re dressed appropriately for the temperature, staying well hydrated, and enjoying a frozen summer time sweet treat occasionally.
No matter how high you keep your thermostat this summer, there’s no fighting an expensive electricity rate. Make sure that you’re not overpaying on energy costs just to melt by comparing your current rate against the cheapest electricity providers today with EnergyBot’s Bill Comparison tool. This will help you determine if you can save money on your energy bill just by switching to a different energy plan.
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