You shouldn’t have to give up comfort or empty your wallet to keep your residence at a refreshing setting during hot days.

But what is the right temp, exactly? We review suggestions from energy pros so you can select the best temp for your home.

Here’s what we recommend for the most energy-efficient setting for air conditioning in Lake Forest.

Recommended Thermostat Settings for Summer

Most families find placing the thermostat at 72-73 degrees is ideal. However, if there’s a sizeable difference between your inside and exterior temperatures, your AC costs will be greater.

This is our advice based on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

While at home: 78 degrees. While that appears warm, there are methods you can keep your house refreshing without having the air conditioner on all the time.

Keeping windows and window treatments down during the day keeps cold air where it should be—indoors. Some window treatments, including honeycomb shades or plantation shutters, are designed to offer extra insulation and enhanced energy conservation.

If you have ceiling fans in your residence, the DOE says you can increase thermostat settings about 4 degrees higher without compromising comfort. That’s due to the fact they cool by a windchill effect. Because they cool people, not rooms, turn them off when you move from a room.

If 78 degrees still appears too uncomfortable at first glance, try running an experiment for about a week. Begin by increasing your temperature to 78 degrees while you’re at your house. Then, progressively decrease it while adhering to the tips above. You might be astonished at how comfortable you feel at a hotter temperature setting.

While away: 88 degrees. There’s no reason to keep the air conditioning running all day while your home is unoccupied. Turning the temperature 7–10 degrees hotter can save you anywhere from 5–15% on your AC costs, according to the DOE.

When you get home, don’t be tempted to put your thermostat under 78 to cool your residence more rapidly. This isn’t useful and usually produces a higher air conditioner bill.

A programmable thermostat is a helpful way to keep your temp in check, but it requires setting programs. If you don’t use programs, you risk forgetting to change the set temperature when you leave.

If you need a handy resolution, think about buying a smart thermostat. This thermostat works with with your phone, so it knows when you’re at home and when you’re out. Then it instinctively adjusts temperature settings for maximum savings. How much exactly? Usually $180 each year on heating and cooling, according to ENERGY STAR.

Another plus of using a smart thermostat? You can use your phone to keep an eye on and change temperature settings from just about anywhere.

While sleeping: Around 70 degrees. While ENERGY STAR recommends 82 degrees, that could be unbearable for most families. Most people sleep better when their bedroom is chilled, so that’s why the National Sleep Foundation recommends 60–67 degrees. But that might be too cool, based on your PJ and blanket preference.

We recommend trying an equivalent test over a week, putting your temperature higher and steadily turning it down to find the ideal temperature for your family. On cool nights, you may learn keeping windows open at night and running a ceiling fan is a better option than running the air conditioner.

More Methods to Use Less Energy During Hot Weather

There are extra ways you can conserve money on utility bills throughout the summer.

  1. Get an energy-efficient cooling system. Central air conditioners only are effective for about 12–15 years and lose efficiency as they get older. A new air conditioner can keep your home more comfortable while keeping electricity bills low.
  2. Book annual air conditioner maintenance. Annual air conditioner maintenance keeps your unit operating like it should and could help it operate at better efficiency. It might also help prolong its life cycle, since it enables pros to uncover little issues before they create a major meltdown.
  3. Put in new air filters frequently. Use manufacturer instructions for switching your air filter. A dusty filter can cause your system to short cycle, or switch on and off too frequently, and drive up your cooling.
  4. Inspect attic insulation levels. Just about 90% of houses in the United States don’t have adequate insulation, according to the Insulation Institute. The majority of southern climates should have 13–14” of attic insulation, while northern climates need 16–18”.
  5. Have your ductwork checked. Ductwork that has loosened over time can seep cool air into your attic, walls or crawl space. This can result in huge comfort problems in your residence, including hot and cold spots.
  6. Seal cracks, doors and windows. Keep warm air where it belongs by plugging cracks. You can also caulk or weather strip doors to trap more conditioned air inside.

Save More Energy During Warm Weather with 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning

If you want to conserve more energy during warm weather, our 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning pros can assist you. Give us a call at 949-204-0859 or contact us online for extra information about our energy-saving cooling products.