What Temperature Should I Set My Air Conditioner In Summer
So, what temperature should you set the air conditioner in summer? Recently, we’ve had one of our hottest summers in 140 years of recording temperatures. In fact, while 59.9 degrees Fahrenheit was the 20th-century average thermometer reading, the reading for June 2019 has averaged 1.71 degrees above that.
Luckily, we have air conditioning to shelter us from the brutal heat, but it comes with a caveat: high utility bills. Do we need to sacrifice comfort to save some money every month?
Read on to learn what air conditioners should be set at in the summer to maintain the correct temperature so that you can stay cool & save some money at the same time!
The Best Air Conditioning Settings For Summer
Energy Star, a joint federal program run by the DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency, recommends the following Best Air Conditioning temperature in summer:
- 78 degrees when you’re home
- 85 degrees when you’re at work or away for more than two hours
- 82 degrees when you’re sleeping
Advice For Best Air Conditioner Temperature Settings For Summer While Staying At Your Comfort Level
Raise the Temperature While Staying Away from Home
While staying away from home, turn up your thermostat when no one is at home. A smart & programmable thermostat setting for summer can do the job. Even, some of the thermostats allow you to make adjustments from your smartphone.
Thermostats give you the ability to program the temperature and choose what time you want your house to cool down or heat up. That way, you don’t have to deal with the 30 to 60-minute waiting period for your air conditioning system to adjust.
To put it another way, the Energy Department says on its website: “The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.” The DOE also reminds people that setting your thermostat to a colder setting than normal won’t cool your house any faster.
Upgrade Your Air Conditioning Unit
Today, air conditioner units are built with advanced features and quality, which can help your home stay efficient. They can easily help you to than ever to save on your energy bills. Moreover, a brand-new air conditioner system can allow you to raise your home's indoor temperature automatically.
This is because many of these air conditioner units feature a variable-speed fan and 2-stage cooling capabilities. Even if your temperature is set high, these features help you stay cooler for longer.
Determine Your Budget
Before you make any adjustments to your temperature, make an informed choice. Calculate how much you’re paying now at your ideal temperature and how much you would like to save.
According to Smart Energy, for each degree that your thermostat is set above 72 degrees, you can save up to 3% on your utility bill. With this in mind, estimate how much you would be saving at a bearable temperature.
Fans Can Lower The Bills with Cooling
There are also other ways you can stay cool while saving money on your utility bill. Turn on your ceiling or box fans. Although they don’t lower the temperature of a room, the wind chill effect can make you feel cooler at higher temperatures.
Does Energy Star Have Authority
The short answer is yes! Energy Star is a government-backed labeling program that provides simple, non-biased information for consumers on energy savings efficiency.
The goal of this program is to help people and organizations save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
You can be assured that a product with an Energy Star will save you money on your electricity bill and help protect the environment. This is because they need to meet strict energy criteria set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the U.S. Department of Energy.
Some Ways to Save Money
There are also other ways you can stay cool while saving money on your utility bill.
- You can take advantage of cooler nights by keeping your windows open and closing them in the morning. You can also:
- Invest in thick, light-blocking curtains to prevent heat from entering through your windows
- Keep your home sealed–install or replace old weatherstripping and caulk
- Limit the use of appliances that generate heat, and try to grill outside as much as possible
- Replace cooling units with energy-efficient models
- Utilize portable AC or window units if you don’t need to keep your entire house cool all day
- Close off vents to your basement to force air up top first
- Ensure that you’re regularly maintaining your air conditioning unit
- Ensure that none of your furniture obstructs the air conditioning vents
The Best HVAC Settings For Summer: Saving Money & Staying Cool
As you can see, saving some money every month while remaining comfortable in your home is possible. By making an informed choice about the amount of money you’d like to save to find your ideal temperature, the summer doesn’t have to be excruciating for your body or your wallet.
Last but not least, switching to a programmable or smart thermostat can save you even more on your utility bills. Automating your system with these best air conditioning settings for summer will keep you comfortable year-round without lingering near the thermostat and manually adjusting it.
Ready to optimize your air conditioning system to combat the Seattle heat?
Contact us for any additional questions you may have, or give us a call today at 206-202-9499.