Setting the thermostat appropriately can significantly impact your home’s comfort and energy consumption. Understanding the recommended thermostat settings for summer and winter is crucial for maintaining an ideal indoor environment while ensuring efficient energy usage and cost savings.
Recommended Thermostat Settings for Summer and Winter for Your Home
Achieving comfort while maintaining energy efficiency is a common concern.
Thermostat Settings for Summer: Set it at 78° F when you are at home for the most energy-efficient setting during that season.
Thermostat Settings For Winter: Ideally set it at 68° F when you’re at home. However, it’s advised to lower it when you’re asleep or away. According to Energy.gov, 68° F to 70° F is the best energy and cost-saving thermostat temperature in winter.
Did you know: Don’t set the thermostat to a colder temperature than usual when turning on the air conditioner? It won’t cool faster, but it will increase expenses.
Lowering your thermostat by 7–10 degrees for 8 hours a day can save up to 10% on annual heating costs. This way you save 1% for every degree lowered, if the temperature stays lower for 8 hours. ENERGYSTAR.gov recommends keeping your home temperature between 70 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Here is a table regarding different periods of the day.
| Settings | Time | Heating Setpoint Temp | Cooling Setpoint Temperature |
| Wake | 06:00 AM | Less than or equal to 70° F | Less than or equal to 78° F |
| Day | 08:00 AM | Set Back 8° F | Set Up at 7° F |
| Evening | 06:00 PM | Less than or equal to 70° F | Less than or equal to 78° F |
| Sleep | 10:00 PM | Set Back at 8° F | Set Up 4°F |
Also See: What Temperature to Set Air Conditioner in Winter?
Recommended Thermostat Settings for Fall and Spring
Set thermostat to Auto mode, choose desired temperature, and set the Deadband range. Suppose your house temperature is more than 78° F and you want to cool it. Or if it is 68° F and you want to raise it. Simply set the thermostat to 73° and deadband to 10° F.
- During warmer weather (Spring), it’s best to set your thermostat to 78 °F during the day and increase it to 86 °F when you’re not at home.
- During colder periods (Fall), adjust your thermostat to 68 °F when you’re at home and awake, ensuring a comfortable environment. For a peaceful sleep, decrease it to 65 °F. When you’re not at home, reduce the temperature to 60 °F to save energy effectively.
Recommended Summer Thermostat Setting for a 2-Story House
72°F on the first floor and 75°F on the second are the recommended thermostat settings are known as the temperature cascade, ensuring optimal comfort levels. However, determining the best thermostat settings can be complex due to various factors:
- Does each level have a separate thermostat?
- Are there individual thermostats at each heating or ventilation outlet?
- Where do occupants spend their time during the day?
- What are their individual temperature preferences?
Did you know: Using programmable thermostats can simplify the process of regulating your home’s temperature while you’re out, allowing you to cool the house just before your return.
Also See: Sensibo Air Pro Brings Climate Intelligence at Your Fingertips
These considerations play a significant role in setting the thermostat, presenting a challenging balancing act. Moreover, there are broader factors influencing the ideal settings for a two-story building, categorized as follows:
1. Air Circulation Dynamics: In a two-story building, warm air rises while cold air descends, leading to constant air circulation. Effective insulation, including well-insulated doors, windows, walls, and ceilings between floors, is crucial to manage this circulation and maintain consistent temperatures.
2. Reasons for the Thermostat Settings: The desired indoor temperature depends on specific objectives. Understanding these goals significantly impacts the thermostat settings you choose. For instance:
- Do you seek a warmer, neutral, or cooler indoor temperature compared to the outdoors?
- Are you aiming to regulate the temperature throughout the entire house or only where occupants are present?
3. Zoning: Given the size of a two-story house, it is essential to implement zoning. This involves dividing the house into different heating and cooling zones. By creating distinct zones for each floor, you can manage temperature control more effectively, preventing conflicts between the levels’ air circulation. Using separate thermostats for each zone allows you to adjust the temperature independently, ensuring comfort for all occupants.
Cross-Reference: 10 Thermostat Tips and Settings You Should Know
Suggested Thermostat Settings for Sleeping Peacefully
The ideal sleeping temperature is 60-67° F. Body temperature drops during sleep and individual comfort levels vary. Sleep specialists advise using different temperature settings for warm and cold seasons as temperature affects sleep quality.
- Winter 65° F
- Summer 78° F
- Spring and Fall 65° F (when cold) and 78° F (when warm)
Cross-Reference: Best Temperature for Sleep
Best Thermostat Settings for an Infant
It is suggested to keep room temperatures between 65° and 74° Fahrenheit. To find the ideal temperature for your baby, you may need to experiment a bit, considering factors like their mood, health, and age.
Recommended Thermostat Settings for Your Houseplant
Maintain around 60° to 75° F as suggested by the experts. It is advisable to avoid exposing your houseplants to temperatures below 50 or exceeding 85 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure their survival.
Ideal Thermostat Settings for Pets at Home
Pets can handle recommended home temperatures of 64 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. They have their own ways to cope with hot or cold weather. For unconventional pets like fish or arachnids, avoid dropping the temperature too low and consider using a heat lamp.
Implementing the recommended thermostat settings for summer and winter can make your home more comfortable while optimizing energy efficiency. However, factors such as the status of heating or ventilation outlets, as well as individual temperature preferences, can influence the ideal settings. To access more interesting content, keep scrolling through our blog posts.
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