During summertime, we’ve got two options on hand: we either faint because of the heat or because we open our utility bill. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise if we make a mission out of saving as much energy and money as we can.
I think the average AC temperature is around 70 de agrees, which in certain cases, might be too low. So the natural question that follows would be: what is the ideal temperature during summer months that will also help us save some bucks? In this article, we will try to decipher the mystery of fighting overheating and overspending at the same time!
Finding the ideal AC temperature for energy saving that won’t leave you dripping sweat in your home is definitely a balancing game. For starters, you are not alone if you’ve turned your AC way down to find some escape from the summer heat, only to regret that decision as soon as you actually open your utility bill.
Even if an AC with energy-saving technology would be more than ideal, we really don’t have the necessary budget to buy a new HVAC system. Luckily, as soon as you know the ideal air conditioner temperature and learn how to combine that knowledge with other tips that will help you maximize savings and assure comfort, you should be able to enjoy the warm weather outside.
Set the thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can keep your utility bills down
One of the biggest mistakes that will spike your bill is leaving the thermostat at a low temperature during summer. You must understand your home by the numbers. It will help you avoid a bunch of costly mistakes.
One of the most cost-effective AC settings, especially for warmer months, is leaving it at 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you are home and awake. Naturally, our idea of comfort can wildly differ, and so do preferred temperatures.
For example, if 78 degrees Fahrenheit is way too warm for you to feel comfy in your own home, you can easily modify the settings.
For example, increase the temperature by a couple of degrees over your typical summer setting, and you should see a difference in your utility bills. Every degree above 72 equates to 3 percent savings on your total cooling costs.
You can also see why 78 is seen as a good temperature for the AC to see the biggest impact. But sometimes, settings like 74 or 75 degrees might deliver noticeable savings, especially if you generally have your home’s thermostat set at or even below 72 degrees Fahrenheit in hotter months.
If you want to keep the energy savings going throughout the year, you should ask yourself: “What temperature should I set my thermostat in winter?” Then, keep your home set at 68 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the winter, to make sure your utility bills are as low as possible.
Increasing the temperature by a couple of degrees when you are away can help reduce your utility bills
When you’re not home, there is really no reason to have the air conditioner working hard to cool the house. Even if you might be tempted to turn the whole thing off completely, according to Brad Roberson, the president of Aire Serv in Hewitt, Texas, it’s not really recommended.
If you want to keep your energy costs down this summer, you can simply try adjusting the temperature a couple of degrees instead of turning off the AC as soon as you leave. This way, your AC won’t have to do extra work to cool your home when you return, which will help you save both energy and money.
And when you’re away, you can set the AC thermostat to about 85 degrees. Setting it even a couple of degrees warmer than the advised AC temperature, especially when you’re at home, might keep the system from working harder than needed and raising your utility bills.
A smart thermostat will also allow you to create different schedules and change the indoor temperatures when you are away from home
The Department of Energy advises to use programmable thermostats to fully maximize energy savings without needing to sacrifice your preferred comfort levels. If you have a programmable thermostat, you might create different schedules that automatically raise or even lower the air conditioner temperature to fully match when you are either home or away.
This way, as soon as you return from work, the air conditioner will have a chance to cool the home before you get there. You won’t even need to rush in to adjust the temperature and wait for the home to cool down.
Another wonderful benefit of smart thermostats is that you can effectively control them by simply using an app on your smartphone. If your schedule ever changes, you will be home earlier or later than you initially thought, and you can modify the settings to match all the changes.
You can even control plenty of garage air conditioners with smart thermostats. This will allow you to effectively adjust the temperature so it’s comfortable enough when you’re ready for your next DIY project.
There are many other ways in which you can keep your home comfortable while also conserving energy
Choosing the right air conditioning temperature is very important, but it’s not the only thing you should do to keep your home comfortable while also minimizing utility costs. Here’s a list with a couple of other tips that might help you this summer:
- make sure you periodically keep your AC maintenance – According to Taylor, “a dirty air filter makes the entire cooling unit work harder than it should.” You can simply replace your filters on a monthly basis, or as needed and advised by the manufacturer of your HVAC system. Roberson would also advise you to perform regular maintenance of your unit. If you can schedule a tune-up with a professional HVAC company before the summer kicks in, you can make sure your system stays in top shape. He also added that it’s fairly important to keep debris away from the unit to make sure the air is able to flow when needed.
- use fans – You can keep the home cooler by using fans. Ceiling fans and freestanding models generally move the air around a room and create this wonderful cooling breeze, lowering the feels-like temperature by 4 degrees Fahrenheit. If you also have ceiling fans, you should make sure they are spinning counterclockwise so they efficiently push the air downward.
- open the windows on cool mornings and evenings – you can take advantage of cooler times of day by simply shutting off your system and opening up the windows. This way, you can easily enjoy the cooling cross-breeze, and save a couple of bucks.
- keep the shades and curtains closed – If you draw your blinds in the afternoon, you can also prevent the heat that comes in the middle of the day, especially when the sun is the strongest. Besides, consider window treatments and coverings that can easily improve energy efficiency in your home and seal any leaks left, especially around the doors and windows.
- invest in an energy-efficient air conditioning system – If you are looking for a new HVAC system, you should consider an Energy Star model. According to the Department of Energy, the top energy-efficient air conditions can easily help you save almost $2,000 over the life of the unit.
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