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 Team Clark members do to stay comfortable in the summer.
How to Cool Your Home: What Is the Ideal Summer Thermostat Setting?
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) website has a recommendation for the ideal thermostat setting during the warmer months.
“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.”
The website also recommends that, if you live in an area where it cools down at night, turn off your AC entirely and let Mother Nature do the work: Open your windows for sleeping and then close them in the morning to capture the cool air.
Where Does Clark Set His Thermostat in the Summer?
Money expert Clark Howard says he keeps his thermostat at 78 degrees, as well. “But with the Nest thermostat, it dials down at bedtime.”
That means 74° for the kids’ rooms and “whatever my wife wants” for their part of the house, he says.
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.
Included in the government’s energy advice is information that may be different from what you’ve heard about heating and cooling your home.
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.
