The ideal temperature in your home should balance your family’s comfort with optimal energy efficiency. The best way to do this is to regularly amend the temperature setting on your thermostat based on the temperature outside, as well as your personal preferences and habits. Typically, the closer the number on your thermostat is to the actual temperature outside, the more money you’ll save – the rest is just adjusting for comfort!
Summertime Temperatures
In Michigan, it’s a little easier to keep your cooling costs low during the summer. Unlike tropical states, like Florida, and desert states, like California, Michigan’s average temperatures in the summer rarely soar above the mid-to-late 80s so your systems don’t have to work as hard to keep your house cool. However, the rule still applies, the higher your temperature setting, the more you’ll save. In fact, for every degree over 78 you raise your thermostat setting during the summer, you could save up to eight percent on your energy bill!
To really save some money, only leave your air conditioning on if you’re going to be home, setting it to the highest temperature you’re comfortable with, and turn it off or raise the temperature even more when you’re going to be away for a while.
Wintertime Temperatures
Winters in Michigan can bring dangerously low temperatures, so the trick about keeping your thermostat set as closely to the temperature outside as possible won’t exactly work this time of year. However, you can still save big on your energy bill by setting your thermostat to approximately 68 degrees while you’re awake, and turning it down a bit more before you go to bed or when you leave the house.
Saving More With A Programmable Thermostat
If you want to enjoy all the savings of a fluctuating thermostat but you don’t want to put in the effort, a programmable thermostat is just what you need. Usually, a programmable thermostat will allow you to set your home to at least six different temperatures a day, each day of the week. That means you can easily program your home to automatically adjust its internal temperature to match your work schedule, sleep schedule, and more for optimal savings all year round!
For more information on how you can further optimize the energy efficiency of your home, or for details on purchasing and installing a new thermostat or HVAC system, we encourage you to reach out to our knowledgeable air quality specialists at AFM Heating & Cooling today. Call AFM Heating & Cooling at 734.464.6700 for a free consultation, or simply fill out the form in the sidebar, today.
