Still can’t find the right ac temperature for your home? We’re putting a stop to your frustration. Here’s how to select the right air conditioning temperature.
Heating and cooling make up the majority of your home energy needs.
So rather than simply setting your AC temperature to a random temperature, it’s better to have a strategy.
After all, you can save up to 10% per year by strategically moving your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit from your usual setting. The savings can be even greater if you live in a mild climate.
Who doesn’t want to save money while maintaining a temperate indoor climate? Here are some top tips for keeping your home comfortable and efficient:
Set a Base AC Temperature
The greater the difference between exterior and interior temperatures, the more your heating and cooling systems have to work.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting the base temperature in your home to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature designed to save you most on energy costs without impacting your family’s comfort.
Set a New Base Temperature for When You Leave
Some people argue that turning the base temperature up when you leave costs more energy because you have to cool it back down later.
But, the Department of Energy says this isn’t true.
When you crank of the temperature before you leave, it gains less heat from the exterior temperature. So, you’re actually creating a more efficient energy scenario if you turn it up to 85 (or at least 7 degrees) when you’re away.
Set a Sleeping Temperature
Experiment with the night time temperature in your home. Most people don’t need the AC temperature to be at its day-time level when they sleep.
According to a study by the National Institute of Health, you get the best sleep when your body enters “thermoneutrality.”
“Thermoneutrality” happens at 86 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re sleeping without pajamas or blankets. If you’re wearing clothes and have a sheet, the temperature drops to somewhere between 60 and 66 degrees.
Remember, the outdoor temperature drops overnight, too. So, there’s little need for your thermostat to be set at 90 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny even at night.
Use a Fan
Using a ceiling fan is a great way to take the pressure off your heating and cooling systems.
When you turn on the fan, you can turn up the room temperature by at least 5 degrees.
While a fan doesn’t cool the room, it does recreate something of a wind-chill factor like you’d experience on a cold windy day when the temperature is 32 degrees but “feels like” zero.
Essentially, the fan doesn’t lower the temperature, it makes the room feel cooler thereby providing you with the same effect using less energy.
Don’t leave the fan running when you’re not in the room. The wind-chill effect is useless if there’s no one to bask in the breeze. Plus, it’s counterproductive because it results in simply wasting energy.
If these tips just don’t cut it, it’s often because you need a new heating and cooling system. But, don’t worry. There are federal tax credits available to help you purchase a more efficient system.
Want more energy saving tips from Angell Aire? Click here for more ways to save money on your heating bill.
