Summer is hot and humid, but you don’t want to get an outrageous electric bill to stay cool. You may also worry about your impact on the environment. Lately, you’ve been wondering, “What temperature should I set my AC to keep costs and carbon emissions down?” You may find you have to make some compromises.

Federal Recommendations

Everyone has a personal comfort level for cooling when it comes to summer heat. However, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) ENERGY STAR program recommends setting your thermostat at 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

The program also recommends raising the setting by 7 degrees for hours when you’re not at home, which is 85 degrees. ENERGY STAR also recommends increasing the setting by 4 degrees while sleeping, or up to 82 degrees.

These settings deliver the highest savings on energy costs without sacrificing too much comfort. The DOE recommends installing a programmable thermostat to make it easier to implement.

Local recommendations

Thermostat setting recommendations from the State of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities are slightly different. The Board recommends setting your thermostat between 76 to 78 degrees F. They don’t recommend any other adjustments for the time of day or occupancy, however.

Humidity Control

Summers on the coast can be humid, as well as hot. You may be wondering, “What temperature should I set my AC for humidity control?”

Excess moisture in the air can make you feel like it’s hotter than it really is. It can also cause damage to your property.

Too low, however, and you may experience itchy skin and sinus pain. Experts recommend a balance of about 50 percent relative humidity in your home.

Your AC will remove much of the moisture from the air in your home. If you find that 78 is too hot and humid for comfort, you can still reduce the setting by a degree or two.

However, if setting your thermostat to 78 is comfortable but allows too much moisture to accumulate in the indoor air, using a dehumidifier might be the solution.

Total Family Comfort

You may need to adjust the ENERGY STAR’s recommendations for vulnerable family members. While saving money and saving the planet are both admirable goals, you should take other members of your household into account when adjusting the thermostat.

Small infants

Families with babies may need to make adjustments, even if they only apply to the child’s sleeping area.

Babies can overheat easily, and many pediatricians recommend keeping newborns in rooms conditioned between 68 to 72 degrees.

Pregnant moms

Pregnancy can increase a woman’s core temperature and alter her perception of relative heat. Not to mention, exposure to high temperatures are dangerous to both the mother and the baby.

Perhaps, you’re wondering, “What temperature should I set my AC for an expectant mother?” Your best answer is to install a smart thermostat that she can control from her phone. That way she can adjust the temperature from anywhere in the house while resting.

Seniors

Elderly family members are less able to adjust to extreme temperature changes and can become easily heat stressed. Chronic health conditions can make them especially vulnerable.

You’ll need to consult your family member for their specific preferences, but temperatures between 65 and 78 degrees should be considered safe.

Pets

Families with pets may also need to make adjustments to the ENERGY STAR recommendations.

Most healthy adult dogs can tolerate temperatures between 72 and 78 in the summertime. Temperatures over 82 degrees, however, aren’t safe for your furry friend.

Cats, on the other hand, can tolerate higher temperatures, and as long as they have access to fresh water, are fine up to 85 to 88 degrees.

Temperature Settings for Electronics

With more Americans working remotely than ever before, you may wonder, “What temperature should I set my AC for my computer?”

Electronic equipment can raise the temperature inside your home, but you won’t need to adjust the temperature settings on your thermostat.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends server rooms be kept anywhere between 65 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tips for Living at 78 Degrees

If you find 78 is simply too high but still want to reduce electricity costs, try these tips to make your home cooler without turning down the thermostat.

  • Add blackout curtains to windows and keep them closed

  • Reduce the use of stoves, ovens, and clothes dryers

  • Unplug electronic equipment when not in use

  • Use a dehumidifier to make rooms feel cooler

  • Utilize ceiling fans to improve ventilation and assist natural cooling

Make an appointment today with the experts at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning in Pleasantville. We can add whole-house dehumidifiers and programmable thermostats so you can reduce your AC energy costs in comfort.