Ideal Thermostat Settings for Combining Comfort with Savings

Running your air conditioner too much during the summer and your heater too much during the winter can end up costing you a lot of money. But following these simple rules can help ensure that you’re comfortable when you need to be while reducing your residential electric bill expenses.

Save About One Percent off Your Electric Bill for Each Degree of Setback

You should allow your home to get warmer during the summer and cooler during the winter when you’re not home. Setting your thermostat back 10–15 degrees for 8 hours a day can save you about 5 percent to 15 percent on your electric bill for the year, or about one percent for each degree of setback.

Preferred Summer Thermostat Settings

When you’re home, set your thermostat to 78 degrees.

When you’re away at work or know you’ll be gone for a while, raise your thermostat temperature to around 88 degrees.

Preferred Winter Thermostat Settings

When you’re home, set your thermostat to 68 degrees.

When you’re away at work or know you’ll be gone for a while, decrease your thermostat temperature to around 58 degrees.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats can help you easily and conveniently manage your home and away temperature settings by setting up a schedule. In the winter, a programmable thermostat can lower the temperature just after you leave and warm it back up right before you return. Likewise, in the summer, it can allow the temperature to increase after you leave and lower it back down to a comfortable level before you arrive home.

Sources

Energy Savers website, “Thermostats and Control Systems.”