Energy Savings Tips

Deciding what temperature to keep the thermostat set at can be tricky, especially for families. On one hand, you want to feel comfortably cool in summer and happily toasty in winter. On the other hand, saving money on electricity costs can be good for your wallet. What’s the ideal home temperature in and around Stroudsburg, PA?

The Best Home Temperature for Summer

Stay cool and maximize energy savings in summer by keeping the thermostat at 78 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a great base temperature to start with. Here are several other factors that affect the best thermostat temp for AC systems:

Type of HVAC System

Older HVAC systems may deliver the same air temperature to the entire house. This can make your home cooler downstairs and warmer upstairs. Many modern HVAC systems avoid this issue by letting you customize the temperature of each zone of the house.

Time You Spend at Home

When you’re home all day long, keeping the thermostat at 78 degrees Fahrenheit is a great idea. If you’re going to work from 9:00 to 5:00 at the office, ENERGY STAR recommends setting the temperature 5–8 degrees higher (or 83–86 degrees Fahrenheit). That way you save money on electricity.

Rooms You Use Most

The layout of your house and the amount of sunlight your favorite rooms get also affects the indoor temperature. East-facing rooms heat up quickly in the morning. South-facing rooms often need less cooling to stay comfortable.
When choosing the ideal thermostat temp for your home in the Poconos, it’s normal for personal preferences to come into play. Some people feel too hot at 78 degrees while others are just fine at 80 degrees.

The Best Setting for Heating Systems in Winter

To keep your family snug and happy all winter long, keep the home temperature at 68 degrees between mid-October and early-April. If there are older adults in your home, they will probably appreciate having the thermostat set a few degrees higher than normal.

Do you hate having cold feet in the morning? In that case, you may want to start out with a slightly warmer temperature (say 70 degrees) and then scale back as sunlight fills the home.

Ways To Improve the Energy Efficiency Of Your Thermostat

An excellent way to save money on your monthly electricity bill is to upgrade your home’s heating and cooling unit. Follow these tips to maximize energy efficiency:

  1. Add a Zoning System to the Home
  2. HVAC professionals can separate different parts of the home into specific zones. This allows you to control the temperature of each area precisely, so you spend less on heating or cooling rooms that you don’t use often.

  3. Take Advantage of Blackout Curtains
  4. Blackout curtains block sunlight, reducing the amount of heat entering rooms during summer. They’re a great way to make sunny living rooms or bedrooms more comfortable.

  5. Run the Dehumidifier
  6. High humidity can make the home feel muggier in summer or colder in winter. With a dehumidifier, you may discover that you don’t need to set the home temperature as high.

  7. Install a Programmable Thermostat
  8. Programmable thermostats are amazing for saving money on energy costs. You can set temperatures for the morning, afternoon, and evening, as well as times you’re at the office. That way you always feel comfortable but you don’t have to waste electricity on cooling if no one is home.

Contact R.J. Groner Inc. Today!

To learn more about zoning areas, programmable thermostats, and other energy-efficient HVAC systems, contact our expert R.J. Groner Inc. team in Stroudsburg right away. You can also give us a call at (570) 595-1010.

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Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Heymo