Technology has allowed us to stay cool and comfortable in our homes during the summer, despite the scorching heat outside. As we are a few weeks into summer, your AC is surely working hard, and you can expect it to work even harder in the coming months. Due to this, you may notice an increase in your energy bills. But all is not lost; you can find an energy-efficient temperature setting that keeps your home cool and comfortable while keeping your energy consumption manageable. Join your New Albany Heating & Cooling experts to learn more about discovering the best energy-efficient AC setting for your household this summer.
WHAT IS THE MOST ENERGY-EFFICIENT AC SETTING?
The Recommendation:
While no magical number will universally fit everyone’s needs, you can find your “sweet spot” through a little trial and error. To give you a general idea, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your air conditioning at 78°F (26°C) for optimal efficiency. We know this seems high and may not even work for you, but remember that what works for one household may not work for another – and that is totally fine! Just use this recommendation as a reference point and adjust accordingly to find the temperature that works best for you and your family.
The Method:
Let’s get started! First, set your thermostat to 78°F as recommended. Next, you’ll want to give your AC a few hours to adjust and evaluate how your family feels. You may be surprised to find that 78°F is not all that bad. Just be sure to give your AC ample time to adjust to the thermostat changes and regulate the air throughout your home. After a few hours, you should readjust the temperature by only 1-2 degrees at a time, allowing a good amount of time to pass between each readjustment. Gradually continue this process over the next few days until you find the perfect temperature to keep your family cool and comfortable while reducing energy consumption. Just remember, the lower you set your thermostat, the higher your energy bills will be.
The Vacation Setting:
During summer vacations or weekend getaways, it’s natural to worry about leaving your home with the AC running. However, turning off the AC entirely isn’t a good idea; we definitely do not suggest doing so. Leaving your home for an extended amount of time without your AC running can cause heat and humidity damage to your home and belongings, including houseplants, art pieces, and collectibles, and even be detrimental to small house pets like fish. Instead, increase your thermostat setting by 10 degrees before leaving. This simple tip can help reduce energy usage by 5-15%.
The Thermostat:
While standard thermostats perform well and work great, smart thermostats are insanely convenient and energy efficient. On top of that, a smart thermostat can help you reduce your energy usage by allowing you to form a pre-set temperature based on your daily work routine. Not convinced quite yet? Imagine you’re going on a fun family vacation, but in the middle of getting everyone out the door, bags loaded, and everything locked up, you forget to change your thermostat settings. No judgment; it happens to the best of us! Suddenly, out of nowhere, as you are well on your way to your destination, you realize that your air conditioner was left running at full force! Cue the facepalm. But aha! Luckily, you have a smart thermostat, and remember that you can use your phone to adjust the AC settings. The dilemma is now solved, and this means you can enjoy your vacation worry-free. Furthermore, you can also set the temperature to go back to your normal AC temperature before returning home so that you can relax in a cool environment as soon as you get back home.
Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? We realize this scenario may sound a little silly to some, but if you have a busy summer ahead of you or for those who are prone to traveling regularly, it certainly is a terrific option in terms of convenience as well as energy efficiency! So, if you have any questions, we’d be happy to hear from you and help in any way we can!
It can be challenging to balance staying cool and comfortable with managing your monthly energy consumption, but it is achievable. Call New Albany Heating & Cooling for all your energy-saving and cooling needs today at (614) 636-5002, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
