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Every year, it’s the same thing. Outdoor temperatures start soaring, and your central air conditioning comes into the picture.
This begs the question, “What is the best AC temperature for energy saving?”
To get the right answer, you will need to determine whether your goal is to save energy, experience comfort, or obtain the perfect balance of both.
Other factors that come into play are the activities that take place at home every day, the number of people living in it, the number of windows you have, the amount of direct sunlight that comes in, and more.
In other words, you will need to figure out what works best for you and your family.
How To Reduce Your Electric Bill and Maintain Adequate Cooling Comfort?
Setting your thermostat at varying temperatures no matter the time of day can be key to preventing your energy bill from scaling unaffordable heights, especially during the summer.
Here are a few essential factors to keep in mind when deciding the temperature to set your air conditioners at.
These should help you find your best AC temperature for energy saving as well as indoor comfort.
Outdoor Temperature
It is important to keep in mind the average outside temperature when deciding what temperature to set your air conditioner at.
The less of a difference there is between indoor and outdoor temperatures, the less energy your HVAC systems will have to expend to maintain a comfortable home environment.
When cooling systems do not have to put in as much work, it will show in your electric bill.
Humidity
In humid areas, households are at risk of mold and mildew growth due to the high levels of moisture in the air.
It also puts homes at risk of wood rotting, paint peeling, and other problems related to humidity that you’d rather not experience.
Fortunately, keeping an air conditioner running can lower the humidity to the more ideal range of 30 to 50 percent.
One way to help keep indoor humidity within this domain is by purchasing a hygrometer.
That is, unless your air conditioner already comes with a built-in humidistat. If so, you can do without this separate accessory.
Ideal Indoor Temperature
According to the United States Department of Energy, the sweet spot for balancing cooling comfort and energy at home for air conditioners is 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
While generally considered the ideal AC temperature, it may not be cool enough for some people.
This is especially true for those looking for much-needed relief from the scorching outdoor heat.
To find your indoor temperature sweet spot, set your thermostat to the ideal 78 degrees Fahrenheit (68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter) and see if that suits you.
If not, start adjusting it a degree at a time lower until you achieve that ideal level of cooling comfort.
Time Away From Home
Comfort and humidity may be the main considerations for creating the ideal home environment. However, there is no reason to stress yourself out about them as much if you are not at home.
You can cut back on energy costs by keeping the AC off when you are not at home and setting the thermostat at different temperatures over the course of the day when you are at home.
Ideal Sleep Environment
We all have different ideas about the ideal sleep temperature.
As good as 78 degrees Fahrenheit is for energy saving, it is usually not the most conducive for sleep.
That said, the optimal sleep temperature for most people typically falls between 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit.
That means 78 degrees is not nearly cool enough to drift you off to dreamland, regardless of the outside temperature.
Before you head to bed, consider resetting the thermostat a few minutes ahead so that the temperature will be right for sleeping by the time you enter the bedroom.
A programmable thermostat can make things easier, as you can program it to your ideal temperature for the times you normally hit the hay.
Consider opening the windows if the temperature in your region allows it.
If it is cooler and milder in your area, you should be able to get away with opening the windows to create a more sleep-conducive environment. Plus, it is a great way to conserve energy.
Other Tips for Maintaining a Relatively Affordable Electric Bill
From minor repairs to simple lifestyle changes to major renovations and investments, there are different ways to cut back on utility costs and improve energy efficiency at home.
Here are our four best tips for saving energy and slashing that electric bill effectively when using your AC:
- Use ceiling fans.
- Install a programmable thermostat.
- Avoid turning the AC temperature colder than necessary.
- Consider investing in an air conditioner with an Energy Star rating.
Why do these tips work?
Tip #1: Use Ceiling Fans.
Did you know that cooling and heating account for more than half of the energy used in the United States?
If you want to conserve energy without sacrificing comfort, you could try installing ceiling fans at strategic locations in your house.
They don’t consume nearly as much energy as air conditioners, bringing your utility bills down and improving energy efficiency as a result.
Furthermore, you can increase thermostat settings by four degrees during summertime without it resulting in a drop in comfort level.
Tip #2: Get a Programmable Thermostat.
Adjusting your thermostat repeatedly throughout the day may be the right thing to do to conserve energy, but it can be time-consuming.
Plus, sometimes, you just forget.
You can avoid this and ensure continuous comfortable temperatures when you install a programmable thermostat.
You can simply pre-set a schedule based on how cool or warm you want the temperatures to be during specific times of the day. There is no need to adjust again and again.
In case you decide to change a pre-programmed temperature setting, you can override it manually without fuss.
You can also pre-set it to cool your home before you get out of bed in the morning or return from work at the end of the day.
Doing this eliminates the potential discomfort you can experience while waiting for your goal temperature to set.
Smart Thermostats
A type of programmable thermostat that can take both comfort and energy conservation efforts at home to another level is the smart thermostat.
It literally gives you the power to control your home’s indoor temperature from anywhere.
Aside from being able to pre-set temperature settings according to your comfort level at specific times of the day, the smart thermostat offers other perks, too.
One touch is all it takes to bring the temperature to a level that suits indoor humidity.
It can help a household conserve energy by auto-adjusting the temperature based on the outdoor temperature or the weather.
Also, it takes into consideration the physical activities going on inside the home, the number of people, and numerous other factors in the auto adjustment process.
These smart devices don’t merely follow pre-programmed settings; they also integrate preferences and schedules when managing indoor temperature.
They truly are the full package as far as thermostats go.
Tip #3: Don’t Adjust for Quick Relief
Turning the temperature colder than necessary to get quick relief from the heat is not always a smart idea.
Not only will it fail to cool the home environment faster, but it can also result in unnecessary electric expenses from excessive cooling.
Tip #4: Invest in An Energy Star AC Unit.
An Energy-Star rating can truly do wonders for your household energy conservation efforts.
Sure, a unit belonging to this category could be pricier than ordinary models, but their energy-efficient operations make them a cheaper and wiser investment in the long run.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, established the Energy Star Program to help provide products with more energy efficiency to the American population.
This program’s main objectives are to:
- Reduce the emission rate of greenhouse gasses and other types of pollution caused by the inefficient energy usage
- Make it easier for United States citizens to acquire products that are energy efficient, helping reduce their energy bills without sacrificing AC performance and comfort indoors
When you install a high-efficiency AC unit, you could bring down your energy consumption by as much as 50 percent.
In addition, these energy-efficient cooling systems reuse and recycle water to deliver more sustainable operations, unlike conventional systems that simply use up water.
On top of that, the best-rated units are dependable even in extreme temperatures and can run on generator power in the event of a natural disaster.
Tip #5: Do Regular Air Conditioner Maintenance.
Even Energy Star-rated air conditioning units, which are considered the cream of the crop of air conditioners, need some tender love and care from time to time.
When subjected to regular and proper maintenance, these units are bound to deliver on their energy-efficiency ratings consistently for a long time.
Take care of these units, and they will return the favor severalfold.
Unclog those dirty air filters to get clean, cool air that brings comfort to you and your family.
Also, check on your units regularly to see if there is anything that could become a potential problem in the future and nip it in the bud.
This is standard AC maintenance that gets you AC-related energy savings, regardless of the type of air conditioner you own.
In case there is a problem you can’t handle, call on the professionals who can.
Seasoned HVAC professionals have the skills and the equipment to address more serious problems.
If you are unsure what to check, these guys can check your units for you. They can subject your AC units to professional tune-up that usually comes with the following services:
- Outdoor Coil Cleaning
Your air conditioning unit will not be able to perform as well when its outdoor coil is dirty.
The dirt around the coil restricts both heat and airflow, preventing the AC from cooling properly.
- Evaporator Coil Cleaning
Like a dirty outdoor coil, an evaporator coil that has accumulated dirt can prevent the proper transfer of heat and airflow, resulting in efficient cooling.
Not to mention, the build-up of bacteria and mold around the area can lead to lower indoor air quality.
- Refrigerant Level Inspection
When refrigerant levels are low, it takes longer and requires more energy to run the cooling system to maintain comfort.
Achieve the Best AC Temperature for Energy Saving All Year
These energy-saving temperature tips aren’t just for saving energy with AC operations during the summer months.
They are methods that can be applied throughout the year to manage monthly energy costs.
Find your temperature sweet spot and start applying these steps so that you can achieve the ideal home temperature in accordance with a year-round efficient energy plan.
Before you know it, you can achieve that perfect balance between comfort and energy efficiency at home without sacrificing your needs and lifestyle.