You shouldn’t have to sacrifice comfort or spend a lot to keep your house at a refreshing temp during the summer.
But what is the best temperature, exactly? We review suggestions from energy experts so you can choose the best setting for your home.
Here’s what we recommend for the most energy-efficient setting for air conditioning in St. Louis.
Recommended Thermostat Settings for Summer
Most households find setting the thermostat at 72-73 degrees provides ideal comfort. However, if there’s a big difference between your interior and outdoor temps, your electricity costs will be bigger.
These are our suggestions based on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
While at home: 78 degrees. While that appears too high, there are approaches you can keep your residence refreshing without having the air conditioner on all the time.
Keeping windows and blinds closed during the day keeps cold air where it needs to be—inside. Some window coverings, including honeycomb shades or plantation shutters, are made to give extra insulation and enhanced energy efficiency.
If you have ceiling fans in your house, the DOE says you can raise thermostat settings about 4 degrees higher without compromising comfort. That’s since they cool through a windchill effect. Since they cool people, not spaces, switch them off when you leave a room.
If 78 degrees still feels too hot on the surface, try running an experiment for approximately a week. Begin by upping your temperature to 78 degrees while you’re home. Then, progressively decrease it while adhering to the suggestions above. You could be amazed at how cool you feel at a hotter temperature setting.
While away: 88 degrees. There’s no rationale for keeping the air conditioner going all day while your home is empty. Moving the setting 7¬¬–10 degrees hotter can save you anywhere from 5–15% on your electricity costs, according to the DOE.
When you come home, don’t be tempted to switch your thermostat below 78 to cool your home more rapidly. This isn’t productive and typically leads to a bigger electrical cost.
A programmable thermostat is a useful way to keep your settings in check, but you need to set programs. If you don’t utilize programs, you might forget to increase the set temperature when you take off.
If you need a hassle-free resolution, consider getting a smart thermostat. This thermostat links with your phone, so it knows when you’re at your house and when you’re out. Then it instinctively adjusts temperature settings for the biggest savings. How much exactly? About $180 yearly on heating and cooling, according to ENERGY STAR.
Another perk of installing a smart thermostat? You can use your phone to keep an eye on and adjust temperature settings from just about anywhere.
While sleeping: Around 70 degrees. While ENERGY STAR recommends 82 degrees, that might be unbearable for many families. The majority of people sleep better when their sleeping space is chilly, so that’s why the National Sleep Foundation recommends 60–67 degrees. But that might be too cool, due to your clothing and blanket preference.
We suggest running a comparable test over a week, putting your temperature higher and steadily lowering it to locate the right temp for your family. On cool nights, you may find keeping windows open at night and relying on a ceiling fan is a better solution than using the AC.
More Approaches to Conserve Energy During Warm Weather
There are additional ways you can conserve money on utility bills throughout the summer.
- Install 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 house cooler while keeping cooling
bills low. - Schedule annual air conditioning service. Annual air conditioner maintenance keeps your system working smoothly and could help it work at greater efficiency. It might also help extend its life span, since it helps technicians to discover small troubles before they create a major meltdown.
- Switch air filters regularly. Follow manufacturer instructions for changing your air filter. A dusty filter can lead to your system short cycling, or switch on and off too often, and drive up your electrical
expenses. - 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 should have 13–14” of attic insulation, while northern climates should have 16–18”.
- Have your ductwork examined. Ductwork that has loosened over time can leak cool air into your attic, walls or crawl space. This can lead to major comfort problems in your residence, including hot and cold spots.
- Seal openings, doors and windows. Keep warm air where it should be by closing openings. You can also caulk or weather strip doors to seal more cold air within your home.
Use Less Energy During Hot Weather with Morgner Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating
If you are looking to use less energy this summer, our Morgner Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating experts can provide assistance. Reach us at 314-262-4541 or contact us online for extra info about our energy-conserving cooling options.