Finding the ideal thermostat setting becomes an urgent question for many Americans as temperatures fall each winter. The instinct to raise the temperature on the thermostat sets in the second you get that first blast of chill air.
But there's a price to pay — literally — for the luxury of getting your home warm enough to wear a T-shirt indoors. And while climate change is making summers hotter, it also contributes to extreme weather in the winter, researchers say, and you shouldn't let the surprise of a polar vortex drive up your energy bill.
So, how do you choose between your comfort and your rising bills? You can stop arguing with your family about where to set the thermostat: There is an objective ideal middle ground, according to energy efficiency experts.
What's the ideal thermostat setting?
The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) recommends that you set your thermostat at 68° to 70° F for the majority of each winter day. This is the temperature they recommend while you are home and active around the house, which will give a comfortable level of heat while insulating you against hefty energy bills.
You can save even more by turning the temperature down while you're out of the home or asleep. If possible, the DoE recommends you designate eight hours every day to reduce the temperature by between 7 and 10 degrees. This routine could cut your energy bills by up to 10%.
Smart thermostats, like the Google Nest, are fairly easy to set up and can help establish heating routines that will cut down your bill. Plus, if you leave the house for the day and forget to change the temperature, you can do it from your phone with a smart thermostat.
The goal should be to shrink the difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures as much as possible while maintaining your comfort level inside your home.
Heat pump limitations
If you have a heat pump, you may not be able to adopt this cost-cutting strategy of altering your temperature throughout the day. This is because when a heat pump is in its heating mode, setting back its thermostat can cause the unit to operate inefficiently, thereby canceling out any savings achieved by lowering the temperature setting.
The DoE recommends maintaining a moderate temperature setting throughout the day as the most cost-effective strategy for heat pump owners. However, if you're interested in more precise temperature control, you can consult a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) specialist regarding a special heat pump thermostat that can enable more precise temperature control.
For more energy-saving content, check out our home savings hub.
Other options to save on energy bills
The ideal thermostat temperature isn't going to help if you don't give it help. Namely, you want to take time throughout the year to check the insulation of your home and look for air leaks around doors and windows. A tube of caulk (~$4) and a scraper (~$5) can both save money on your utility bills and keep you more comfortable during the winter if you use them to plug up air leaks.
A slightly larger-scale project is to get an energy audit from a professional, who can tell you where your house is not being efficient. An assessment can cost a few hundred dollars, depending on your home, but if you're staying there for the long-term, it could help to save on costs in the winter and in the summer.
