What’s the Best Setting for Your Thermostat During the Summer?

If rising temperatures outside are starting to turn your home into a hotbox, you probably want to lower your thermostat setting. But how cool should your home be?

This article is going to tell you the best way to cool your home in summer based on some tips from the U.S. Department of Energy. And we’ll let you know what money expert Clark Howard and Team Clark members do to stay comfortable in the summer.

How To Cool Your Home: What Is the Ideal Summer Thermostat Setting?

The Energy Star program, backed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), says 78 degrees should be your target.

Here’s how Energy.gov words it:

” … keeping your house warmer than normal when you are away, and setting the thermostat to 78°F (26°C) only when you are at home and need cooling. Set your thermostat at as high a temperature as comfortably possible and ensure humidity control if needed.”

The website also recommends scheduling regular maintenance on your air conditioner to ensure that it’s operating at an optimal level. And make sure you don’t place heat-producing objects such as TVs or lamps near your thermostat, as that could prompt it to turn on your AC unnecessarily.

Where Does Clark Set His Thermostat in the Summer?

Clark says he keeps his thermostat at 78 degrees during the warmer months.

Clark’s got a Nest thermostat, and he says that dials the temperature down a few degrees bedtime.

Here’s How Other Members of Team Clark Cool Their Homes

• Grace says her ceiling fan has become such a valued part of her home that it has a nickname: Gloria.
• Clark Howard Inc. General Manager Christa says that she puts her thermostat at 68° at night and 76° during the day.

2 Home Cooling Myths Busted

Myth #1: Setting the thermostat drastically lower will cool your home more quickly: When you get home, do you dial down the thermostat way down to get to a comfortable temperature more quickly? “It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense,” says the Energy.gov website.

Myth #2: Keeping the thermostat set at your comfort level will keep your bill low: Looking to save money on your energy bill? Pay attention to what the temperature is outside to know where to set your thermostat inside.

“The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be,” says the DOE website.

Do you have some energy tips that have lowered your cooling bill? Let us know in the comments.