When you’ve had enough of the Lorain area’s summer heat and humidity, the lowest setting possible might seem like the best temp to set AC at — but it’s not exactly energy efficient. With a little experimenting, you can find a temperature that keeps you comfortable without driving up your energy bill unnecessarily.
Finding Your Optimal Temperature
In most conditions, the best temp to set AC at is around 78 degrees (a little warmer than room temperature). If you aren’t comfortable at that temperature, lower the setting by just one or two degrees and wait an hour. Still too warm? Try lowering the temperature another degree or two at a time until you find a setting that works for you. If you’re more heat tolerant and want to save more, turn your AC up above 78 degrees one degree at a time. For every degree above 75, you could lower your energy bill by around 5%.
Choosing Energy-Saving Settings
The most sensible, best temp to set AC at is 78 degrees when someone is home and awake, but by choosing more energy-efficient temperatures at other times, you can save even more without sacrificing your comfort. Try raising the AC temperature 7 degrees above your preferred temperature when you go out and 4 degrees higher than your preference when you go to bed. In milder weather, turn the AC off at night and while you’re out. Keeping the AC on when you don’t need it won’t save you money and will only wear out the components faster.
If you don’t want to fiddle with the thermostat every day, install a programmable thermostat to manage the temperature for you. You won’t need to remember to adjust the temperature, and you’ll come home to a cool house all while you save money. With a Wi-Fi-enabled model, you can change the settings from your phone wherever you are on the days you don’t come home on schedule.
For more tips on choosing the best temp to set AC at, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning in the Lorain, Elyria, and Oberlin areas.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area