These Are the “optimal” Summer Thermostat Settings.

In many parts of the country, it hasn’t been easy to stay cool this summer. Our air-conditioned homes are an oasis away from the heat and humidity, but if you want to optimize both cooling and energy efficiency, you may need to raise the temperature.

Get ready: Here are the settings that Energy Star , a federal program by the US Department of Energy and the EPA recommends for a programmable thermostat (you can also follow these guidelines manually):

• 78 ° F when you are at home • 85 ° F when you are at work or away • 82 ° F when you sleep

You can also use ceiling and box fans, open windows on chilly nights, and keep curtains and shades drawn against the sun to keep temperatures from rising, Consumer Reports suggests.

If you need an air conditioner when you get home, program it to run before you arrive, or, with some thermostats, turn it on using the smartphone app.

In hot weather, do not use your washer, dryer or dishwasher in hot weather. Also, make sure you use exhaust fans in the kitchen when cooking, or in the bathroom when showering.

If you live in a warmer climate

As Lisa Rowan, personal finance writer Lifehacker (and a Tampa resident) quickly pointed out, this rate is probably unrealistic for those living in highly naughty places.

“They are so warm, and if you live in a humid place and leave the thermos at 85 when you leave the house for more than a minute, you can get mold,” she told me. “Ask me how I know!”

(Now she keeps the thermostat at 78 basically always, along with the dehumidifier.)

This Twitter thread is also full of outraged AC adherents who are lowering the temperature of their thermostats to 57 degrees in protest:

Personal comfort will also matter. If you like the cold but are on a budget, the Department of Energy estimates that you will save about 3 percent on utility bills for every degree of temperature rise in your central air conditioning system. You can try starting at 78 and gradually lowering it, one degree at a time, giving your body time to adjust until you feel comfortable.

So consider these guidelines as a simple starting point; you will need to find your own “optimal” temperature based on your comfort, budget and location.

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