Recommended Thermostat Settings for Your Home
At some point and time every household has had the battle over their home’s thermostat settings. It is a conflict of comfort and expense, and, ultimately, finding a solution depends on your priorities. Finding balance between saving money and being comfortable while reducing energy costs can be frustrating.
Many people do not realize the importance the thermostat setting is for energy savings. You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting, according to Energy.gov. Individuals are typically concerned about the appropriate thermostat settings for the warmer months, but neglecting the winter settings can have an impact on comfort and budget as well. Energy Star recommends setting your thermostat at 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter.
Consider investing in a programmable thermostat. You have the ability to control temperature while you are home or away, thus saving money while keeping your residence comfortable. When programming your temperature, be sure not to create too much variance in the home and away setting. If the home gets too warm or cold it may cost more money to get it back to normal temperature. The HVAC is not just increasing and decreasing a home’s temperature. It also has an impact on the temperature of a home’s insulation, which will add additional energy costs to cool and heat back to the desired temperature. When away from home, during the summer months try turning the thermostat up 5 degrees and during the winter months programming down 5 degrees.
Tips to Help Achieve the Recommended Thermostat Settings & Reduce Energy Costs:
- If 78 degrees in summer seems a bit warm, especially for hot Texas summers, try starting at 75 degrees and working to 78 degrees. During the winter months set your thermostat at the lowest temperature tolerable and decrease the setting by one degree while working to 68 degrees.
- When cooling your home it is better to lower the temperature at night, because your AC actually works less at night than during the day due to the lower outside temperature and the sun no longer beating down on your home.
- Use fans in the summer months to cool down the main living and sleeping areas. During the winter season use space heaters to warm the same rooms.
- During the hot and cold months, keep your windows/shades closed to keep summer heat and winter drafts at bay.
- Take care of your HVAC by contacting Champion & Nash HVAC to schedule spring and fall maintenance. Make sure your equipment is ready for the hot summer months and cold winter season.
https://energy.gov/energysaver/thermostats
https://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/publications/pubdocs/HeatingCoolingGuide%20FINAL_9-4-09.pdf
