Here in New England, we brag about how long into the fall we wait to turn on our heat. Some people refuse to turn on the heat until a specific date (the Halloween camp is stubborn!) while some have a certain temperature in mind or a milestone like the first frost.
Personally, I struggle with feeling like I want the heat turned on one week, only for Indian Summer to hit and I suddenly want the air conditioner again. Ahh, New England weather at its finest.
Then we have the same conversation in the spring as the weather warms up and we’re asking each other if we’ve turned on our AC, yet, or if we’re sleeping with the windows open.
Usually, people are waiting to adjust their thermostats for fiscal reasons – heating and cooling are expensive and we all want to keep our energy bill as low as possible. At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious, when we use less energy it’s not only better for our wallets but it’s also better for the planet.
As summer approaches, how can our eco friendly thermostat settings help lower our energy usage?
The Goal of Optimal Thermostat Settings
To be most energy efficient, you want to minimize the difference between the indoor temperature and outdoor temperature. For example, if it’s 88 degrees outside, it’s better to keep your house set to 78 instead of 68 (even though the cooler temperature is tempting on hot days).
In the winter when it’s below freezing, it’s better to have your thermostat set to 68 than to 78. The goal is to balance your optimal comfort level with conserving energy to find a thermostat setting that works for you. Simple, right?
Should You Adjust Your Thermostat For Different Times of the Day?
The US Department of Energy suggests using a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature anywhere from 7-10 degrees from your normal setting for at least 8 hours a day. This strategy could add up to 10% energy savings yearly for heating and cooling. Yay for lower utility bills!
Many people choose to adjust the temp while they’re at work, or asleep, but with more people working from home, it’s becoming more difficult to use the daytime window. I’ve worked from home for more than 10 years, so I’ve never changed my thermostat setting during the day even though I know it’s better for energy efficiency.
It’s a common misconception that the energy it takes to bring the temperature back to a comfortable level after an adjustment cancels out any energy savings, but that has been proven to be a myth. This article dives deeper into the science and even includes equations if you’re interested.
The science is clear that you can save energy, and lower your utility bills, by adjusting your thermostat regularly while you’re away for long periods such as work, sleep, or vacations.
The Most Eco Friendly Thermostat Setting
Your ideal temperature setting is going to be based on what you feel is a comfortable temperature, and also based on your location. I’m sure someone in Arizona is going to have different settings than we do here in Boston.
In the winter, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re home and awake, then adjusting the temperature down at night.
Energy Star recommends setting your thermostat to 78 in the summer and then adjusting the temperature up at night so it’s even warmer.
I’ll be honest, my husband would threaten divorce if I suggested setting our air conditioning at 78. We keep ours at 72 during the day to beat the summer heat and it works for us. We also have two zones in our house, so we can be smart with our settings at night while we sleep and no one is downstairs.
Tips for Conserving Energy and Lowering Energy Costs
-
- If you have a manual thermostat, consider upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat to manage daily temperature changes. This is one of the best ways to put your system on auto-pilot and not even have to worry about it. Make sure to keep your thermostat on an interior wall away from direct sunlight, drafts, vents, or furniture for the most accurate reading and usage.
- Teach your kids about heat loss from open doors and windows so they can help with your efforts. Make it a game and let them be helpers with the doors while unloading groceries, for example.
- Try to keep your baseline room temperature as close to the outside temperature as possible. Wearing a sweatshirt and grabbing a blanket to snuggle under in the winter is the best way to avoid turning your thermostat up a few degrees.
- Ceiling fans can help circulate air to keep you comfortable, and many can be adjusted seasonally to push warm air back down in the winter or pull the warmer air up in the summer
- If you have an older HVAC system, there are many rebates available to help with the cost of upgrading to a more energy-efficient system. In our last home, we had an Energy Star home audit
- Energy Star’s “Guide to Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling” provides a lot more tips and tricks
- Are you going away for an extended period of time? Take advantage and adjust your home’s temperature so you’re not throwing money away heating or cooling an empty house. Just remember not to lower your thermostat below 55 in the winter so your pipes don’t freeze
At the end of the day, everyone’s ideal home temperature is different, but the best way to be eco friendly is to adjust the settings based on the time of day so your home is most comfortable during peak hours. Do you and your significant other agree on the best temperature settings?