How to Set Your Thermostat to be More Energy Efficient During the Winter

Setting your thermostat is a personal decision and is largely based on comfort. After all, you want to live in a house that is neither too warm nor too cold. However, setting your thermostat too high during the winter can cause you to spend a lot more on heating than you might prefer.

Here are a few tips for setting your thermostat this winter so that you can save energy and reduce monthly utility bills while maintaining comfort in your home:

• While at home and awake, set your thermostat to 68°F.
• While not at home or while at home but sleeping, set your thermostat to 58°F or lower.
• According to the U.S. Department of Energy, turning your thermostat back 10°F–15°F for at least eight hours a day will allow your to save 10 percent to 15 percent off your heating bill, depending on your climate (harsh climates save less from setback than milder climates).
• Use a programmable thermostat and set it to automatically set the temperature to 68°F when you wake, 58°F or less when you leave for work, 68°F when you return home from work and 58°F or less when you go to bed.
• If you follow the Energy Department’s setback guidelines you’ll save about two percent on your energy bills this winter for every degree of setback.

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, “Thermostats and Control Systems.”

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ENERGY STAR, “Frequent Questions: Heating and Cooling.”