Whats the Most Energy-Efficient AC Setting?

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

But what is the ideal temperature, exactly? We review ideas from energy professionals so you can choose the best temperature for your house.

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

Recommended Thermostat Settings for Summer

Most households find setting the thermostat at 72-73 degrees provides ideal comfort. However, if there’s a sizeable difference between your inside and outdoor warmth, your cooling bills 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 seems too high, there are ways you can keep your residence refreshing without having the AC on constantly.

Keeping windows and curtains shut during the day keeps chilled air where it belongs—inside. Some window solutions, like honeycomb shades or plantation shutters, are designed to give more insulation and better energy efficiency.

If you have ceiling fans in your house, the DOE says you can raise thermostat temps about 4 degrees warmer without compromising comfort. That’s since they freshen with a windchill effect. Since they cool people, not areas, shut them off when you move from a room.

If 78 degrees still seems too hot at first glance, try conducting an experiment for approximately a week. Start by upping your temperature to 78 degrees while you’re at your residence. Then, progressively decrease it while using the ideas above. You might be astonished at how cool you feel at a warmer temperature setting.

While away: 88 degrees. There’s no reason to keep the air conditioner on all day while your house is unoccupied. Moving the temp 7¬¬–10 degrees higher can save you anywhere from 5–15% on your electrical costs, according to the DOE.

When you arrive home, don’t be tempted to put your thermostat under 78 to cool your residence more quickly. This isn’t effective and typically leads to a bigger AC cost.

A programmable thermostat is a helpful method to keep your settings in check, but you have to set programs. If you don’t use programs, you run the risk of forgetting to raise the set temperature when you leave.

If you need a handy remedy, think over getting a smart thermostat. This thermostat works with with your phone, so it realizes when you’re at your house and when you’re away. Then it intuitively adjusts temperature settings for maximum savings. How much exactly? About $180 each year on heating and cooling, according to ENERGY STAR.

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

While sleeping: Around 70 degrees. While ENERGY STAR advises 82 degrees, that might be too uncomfortable for most families. Many people sleep better when their sleeping space is cold, so that’s why the National Sleep Foundation recommends 60–67 degrees. But that could be too chilly, due to your clothing and blanket preference.

We recommend trying an equivalent test over a week, putting your temperature higher and progressively turning it down to pick the right temp for your family. On cool nights, you might find keeping windows open at night and running a ceiling fan is a superior option than running the AC.

More Methods to Conserve Energy This Summer

There are added ways you can save money on AC bills throughout warm weather.

1. Upgrade to an energy-efficient cooling system. Central air conditioners only are effective for about 12–15 years and become less efficient as they age. A new air conditioner can keep your residence comfier while keeping electricity
bills low.
2. Book annual air conditioner maintenance. Regular air conditioner maintenance keeps your equipment operating smoothly and might help it work at better efficiency. It can also help extend its life span, since it helps technicians to discover little problems before they cause a major meltdown.
3. Replace air filters regularly. Read manufacturer instructions for changing your air filter. A clogged filter can result in your system short cycling, or switch on and off too often, and drive up your cooling
costs.
4. Inspect attic insulation levels. Almost 90% of homes in the USA don’t have enough insulation, according to the Insulation Institute. The majority of southern climates require 13–14” of attic insulation, while northern climates require 16–18”.
5. Have your ductwork checked. Ductwork that has separated over the years can let conditioned air into your attic, walls or crawl space. This can create huge comfort troubles in your home, such as hot and cold spots.
6. Seal holes, doors and windows. Keep warm air where it should be by closing openings. You can also caulk or weather strip doors to seal more cold air indoors.

Save More Energy During Warm Weather with Faust Air Conditioning and Heating

If you need to save more energy this summer, our Faust Air Conditioning and Heating specialists can assist you. Give us a call at 979-323-6130 or contact us online for extra details about our energy-efficient cooling products.