Setting your thermostat to an extremely cool temperature may help you beat the summer heat in your Indianapolis home. Unfortunately, it will also make your energy bills spiral out of control. Higher AC temperatures help you balance comfort and energy efficiency.
How Higher AC Temperatures Save Money
Generally, the closer you set your AC temperature to the outside temperature, the less energy your air-conditioning system will need to use to cool your home. When the temperature outside is 90 degrees, your air conditioner works harder to maintain your home’s temperature at 72 degrees than at 78 degrees. Therefore, higher AC temperatures translate to lower cooling costs.
You can set the thermostat to the highest possible temperature that keeps you comfortable to save money. The recommended temperature setting in the summer, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, is 78 degrees.
Running ceiling fans allows you to raise your thermostat setting by a few degrees without noticing a difference in your comfort level. Just make sure you switch off the fans when there’s no one in the room.
You can set an even higher AC temperature when you’re not at home. The less your AC system has to work to cool your empty house, the more savings you’ll get on your cooling bills.
Small steps such as setting higher AC temperatures can amount to significant energy savings. For more AC energy-saving tips, contact the heating and cooling professionals at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We’ve been providing AC installation, repair, and tuneup services to homeowners in the greater Indianapolis area for more than 50 years.
