Adjust Thermostat
Adjusting your thermostat by just a few degrees is easy and makes for big savings and impact!
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
The goal—find a setting that is efficient and comfortable for you!
1Find the best setting for you & tips to stay comfortable
Try adjusting your thermostat a degree or two and see how it feels. The World Health Organization recommends between 64 and 75 degrees for healthy people, with a minimum of 68 degrees for elderly, young children or people with health issues. Try the new setting for a day or two and find the most efficient setting that is comfortable for you.
Some simple things you can do to stay comfortable at your new thermostat settings:
Rock a sweater or some cool shorts. Make it fun! Check through your wardrobe and find a few things to try. Or treat yourself with a new sweater for the occasion!
Winter: Pull out the warmer sweaters or pants. Add some cozy slippers or thick socks and a few throw blankets.
Summer: Try loose, lightweight clothing. Also drinking plenty of cool water or drinks helps. Pull out your great aunt’s famous homemade lemonade recipe and give it a try!
Rearrange the furniture. Check to see if your favorite chair or spot on the couch is near a draft or hot spot. Instead of turning up the heat or air conditioning, move your chair or find a spot to sit where the heating or cooling works well.
Extra Credit: Upgrade to remove that draft! Replacing single-pane windows, adding energy efficient drapes, or sealing up that drafty door jamb can make a big difference!
Use a fan. In the summer heat, the air motion from a fan makes the body feel cooler. When you use a fan with your AC, you can actually set your thermostat 4°F higher and still stay comfortable. Set ceiling fans to move counterclockwise to draw warm air up. Remember to turn the fans off when you leave the room to avoid wasting energy.
2Adjust the thermostat when away and while sleeping
At bedtime. Most people can sleep comfortably while adjusting the temperature a few more degrees (while staying in the healthy range). Make the change slowly and find a temperature that is comfortable for you. Add extra blankets in winter and try a bedside fan in the summer. If you find that you have trouble sleeping, back off the adjustment a bit until you sleep soundly.
When you are away. There is no need to heat or cool an empty house! If everyone in your home goes to work or school during the day, you can save up to 10% of your heating costs by adjusting your thermostat 10-15 degrees for 8 hours a day.
If you have a programmable thermostat, program it to adjust for your new daytime or sleep schedule. If not, post a note to remind you to make the adjustment!
Get Smart. Adjusting your thermostat is much easier with a smart thermostat! It can learn your schedule and change the temperature at night or when you’re away and warm up your house before you get home. And you can easily adjust it from your phone. Check out the Install Smart Thermostat action.