You shouldn’t need to give up comfort or drain your wallet to keep your home at a pleasant setting during the summer.

But what is the ideal temp, exactly? We go over recommendations from energy professionals so you can determine the best setting for your home.

Here’s what we suggest for the most energy-efficient setting for air conditioning in Lincoln.

Recommended Thermostat Settings for Summer

Most families find setting the thermostat at 72-73 degrees is ideal. However, if there’s a big difference between your indoor and exterior temps, your cooling bills will be larger.

These are our suggestions based on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

While at home: 78 degrees. While that sounds warm, there are ways you can keep your house pleasant without having the air conditioner running all the time.

Keeping windows and curtains closed during the day keeps cool air where it belongs—indoors. Some window treatments, including honeycomb shades or plantation shutters, are designed to offer extra insulation and enhanced energy efficiency.

If you have ceiling fans in your house, the DOE says you can move thermostat settings about 4 degrees higher without sacrificing comfort. That’s due to the fact they refresh by a windchill effect. As they cool people, not spaces, shut them off when you leave a room.

If 78 degrees still feels too hot initially, try doing a test for a week or so. Get started by raising your temperature to 78 degrees while you’re at your residence. Then, steadily turn it down while following the suggestions above. You may be amazed at how cool 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. Switching the temp 7–10 degrees higher can save you anywhere from 5–15% on your electricity expenses, according to the DOE.

When you get home, don’t be tempted to set your thermostat colder than 78 to cool your house more quickly. This isn’t effective and usually results in a bigger electricity expense.

A programmable thermostat is a useful method to keep your temp under control, but it requires setting programs. If you don’t use programs, you might forget to raise the set temperature when you leave.

If you’re looking for a handy fix, consider installing a smart thermostat. This thermostat works with with your phone, so it is aware when you’re at home and when you’re away. Then it intuitively changes temperature settings for the biggest savings. How much exactly? An estimated $180 yearly on heating and cooling, according to ENERGY STAR.

Another advantage of using a smart thermostat? You can use your phone to monitor and regulate temperature settings from nearly anywhere.

While sleeping: Around 70 degrees. While ENERGY STAR suggests 82 degrees, that may be unbearable for the majority of families. Many people sleep better when their bedroom is cold, so that’s why the National Sleep Foundation recommends 60–67 degrees. But that could be too chilly, due to your pajama and blanket preference.

We recommend running an equivalent test over a week, putting your temperature higher and slowly turning it down to choose the best setting for your family. On mild nights, you could find keeping windows open at night and relying on a ceiling fan is a superior solution than using the AC.

More Approaches to Save Energy During Hot Weather

There are added approaches you can spend less money on cooling bills throughout hot weather.

  1. Buy an energy-efficient air conditioning system. Central air conditioners only last about 12–15 years and get less efficient as they get older. An updated air conditioner can keep your residence comfier while keeping electricity costs small.
  2. Book regular air conditioner tune-ups. Routine air conditioner maintenance keeps your equipment running properly and may help it work more efficiently. It may also help extend its life expectancy, since it enables technicians to find little issues before they create a major meltdown.
  3. Change air filters often. Use manufacturer instructions for switching your air filter. A clogged filter can result in your system short cycling, or turn on and off too much, and increase your cooling.
  4. Check attic insulation levels. Just about 90% of homes 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 let conditioned air into your attic, walls or crawl space. This can create huge comfort issues in your residence, such as hot and cold spots.
  6. Seal holes, doors and windows. Keep muggy air where it belongs by plugging holes. You can also caulk or weather strip doors to keep more cold air inside.

Use Less Energy During Warm Weather with AW Heating & Air Conditioning

If you are looking to save more energy during warm weather, our AW Heating & Air Conditioning professionals can help. Give us a call at 402-438-7992 or contact us online for extra details about our energy-saving cooling products.