When temperatures swing hard in either direction, a modest thermostat change may help stop your utility bill from climbing as quickly.
HVAC experts told Men's Journal that adjusting your thermostat by about 7 degrees Fahrenheit when you head out can cut unnecessary energy use while still keeping the house reasonably comfortable.
What's happening?
Rather than focusing on one exact number, experts have said the bigger issue is how large the difference is between the temperature inside your home and the temperature outdoors. When that gap is smaller, your heating and cooling system does not need to work as hard.
Michael Haines, chief commercial officer of AC Direct, said, "As a general rule, I tell homeowners to keep the thermostat around 76 to 77°F in the summer when they're home and 82 to 85°F when they're away. In winter, 68 to 72°F while you're home and 60 to 65°F when you're away is a good balance between comfort and energy savings."
If your current system is old, exploring an upgrade can make an even bigger difference. Through its heat pump marketplace program, EnergySage can help you find efficient heating and cooling solutions for your home and connect you with vetted installers, helping you understand your options and slash your energy bills with new, efficient HVACs.
Why does it matter?
Because heating and cooling are often among the largest contributors to a home's energy costs, even a moderate thermostat setback can help. If the system runs less often, it may reduce the sharp bill increases many homeowners see during peak seasons.
Men's Journal noted that Tamer Sayed, a licensed HVAC technician and owner-operator of Tamas Mechanical, said completely shutting the system off when you leave can backfire by making it work harder later to restore the previous indoor temperature.
Travis Arnesen, vice president of marketing at Service Experts, also warned that a full shutdown can allow indoor humidity to build up, which can make the home less comfortable and potentially put added strain on furnishings, electronics, and wood materials.
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If your equipment is older, upgrading your heating and cooling system can be one of the most effective ways to save money while offering protection against rising energy costs.
What can I do?
A programmable or smart thermostat can help by automatically switching between home and away settings, making it easier to stick with a 7-degree adjustment instead of overdoing it by dropping the temperature drastically or turning the system off altogether.
If your existing unit struggles to keep up, EnergySage can help you compare efficient heating and cooling upgrades and find vetted installers. If you're not ready to spend up front, Palmetto offers a $0-down HVAC leasing program that can lower your energy costs by up to 50%. Palmetto's HVAC leases start as low as $99/month and include 12 years of free maintenance.
At a lower price point, Merino makes single-room ultra-efficient HVACs targeted at heating and cooling specific spaces, and they can be installed in under an hour.
You can also pair solar panels with electric appliances, like efficient HVACs, to drive your utility costs even lower. EnergySage makes it easy to find the best solar system and installer for your home and budget, saving you up to $10,000 on installations.
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