Federal Program Says “Keep Your Home Above 78 Degrees”

The US Department of Energy encourages homeowners to keep their thermostats at 78 degrees when they’re home. The guidelines come from Energy Star, a government-backed program to promote energy efficiency.  The program suggests different settings to automate at various times: 78 degrees when you wake up and 82 degrees when you’re sleeping.  Energy Star says homeowners can save about $180 a year with a properly-set programmable thermostat.

  • Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
  • Keep your house warmer than normal when you are away, and lower the thermostat setting to 78°F (26°C) only when you are at home and need cooling. A programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature.
  • Avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense.

https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/spring-and-summer-energy-saving-tips