Help
Giving Back
My Account
Sign Up
Setting Your Thermostat for Comfort and Savings
When it comes to ideal temperatures for indoor living, preferences can depend on a number of factors, including age, sex and health. Experts generally agree that the perfect range for humans is somewhere between 65 degrees and 72 degrees—and research shows most people would agree. But the perfect level of comfort doesn’t account for the degree of savings some would prefer. And so, most of us are stuck trying to find a balance between the two.
Below, we’ve detailed setting ranges for each season that can help accomplish that balance. But it’s good to keep in mind that, on average, you’ll save 1 – 3% on your energy costs for each degree of change (lower or higher, depending on the season) over an 8-hour period. So, it may be worth it to you to experiment by a degree or two, as you might decide the potential savings is worth a slight sacrifice in comfort.
It's also worth noting that the 1 – 3% savings range depends on where you live and how efficient your HVAC system happens to be. In regions where temperatures are more extreme, you’re likely to see bigger savings per degree of adjustment because your HVAC system will be working harder to keep you comfortable.
For example, an Alaskan homeowner lowering their thermostat by one degree in winter will see bigger savings compared to a homeowner in a state like Georgia, where the climate is typically milder. And no matter where you live, a more efficient HVAC system will respond better to thermostat adjustments and lead to bigger savings on heating and cooling expenses.
With all of that in mind, let’s look at commonly recommended thermostat temperature range settings by season and time of day.
Seasonal Thermostat Settings
What’s the ideal spring thermostat temperature?
In milder climates in states like Georgia, the best thermostat setting for spring is between 68°F – 72°F when you want to cut costs while still staying relatively comfortable.
- Daytime when you’re at home: 68°F – 72°F
- Nighttime: 68°F – 72°F
- When you’re away: 55°F – 60°F
- Transitional Temperatures: When spring temperatures are consistently above 65°F, begin running your HVAC in cooling mode.
What’s the best temperature to set my thermostat at during the summer?
For the most savings at the hottest time of year, it’s good to make sure you’re not leaving your thermostat set at one temperature night and day.
- Daytime when you’re at home: 75°F – 78°F
- Nighttime: 72°F – 75°F
- When you’re away: 80°F – 85°F
Did you know more people every day are now using natural gas to power cooler homes and businesses? For more on this, take A Closer Look at Natural Gas Air Conditioners.
What’s the best thermostat setting for fall?
To save in the fall, you may need to be even more vigilant about remembering to adjust your thermostat periodically, as outside temperatures tend to fluctuate more. If you’re looking to avoid making manual adjustments, see our section below on using programmable and smart thermostats.
- Daytime when you’re at home: 68°F – 72°F
- Nighttime: 60°F – 67°F
- When you’re away: 55°F – 60°F
? Transitional Temperatures: When fall temperatures are consistently below 65°F, begin running your HVAC in heating mode.
Adjusting your thermostat settings is just one way to save on natural gas when the weather gets cool. Learn more about Ways to Lower Your Natural Gas Bill.
What should I set my thermostat to in winter?
Heating in southern climates typically cost less than cooling, but your thermostat temperatures are still something you want to pay attention to when you’re looking to cut costs.
- Daytime when you’re at home: 68°F – 72°F
- Nighttime: 60°F – 67°F
- When you’re away: 55°F – 60°F (never let drop below 32°F to prevent freezing pipes)
Curious about how your natural gas cost is calculated in cooler months? Check out our helpful article on Understanding Your Monthly Gas Cost.
Should I turn my HVAC system off when I’m away?
It depends on the temperatures outside. A common myth is that it’s always a bad idea to turn off your HVAC system off when no one’s at home for eight hours or more, as it has to work harder and burn more energy to restore comfortable temperatures when you’re back at home. But this isn’t necessarily true.
In many cases, when you don’t have pets that need certain temperatures or items like musical instruments that can be compromised by temperature and humidity, it’s a good idea to turn your HVAC system off for a few hours. Some high efficiency HVAC systems will actually use less energy bringing your home back into your desired temperature range when you return, versus leaving it on for extended periods when you’re gone. This can also be true in mild climates with well-insulated homes that keep temperatures stable when the HVAC system is off for a few hours. It might be worth experimenting a little to find out which approach works better for your home to lower your monthly energy bills.
When it’s cold out, however, you’ll want to make sure your home doesn’t drop below freezing (32°F), even if you’re gone for extended periods. Cold temperatures in this range can cause damage to water pipes, so you’ll want to run your heating system enough to prevent that.
Using electricity to heat your home in the winter? Find out how you can save by switching to natural gas in our helpful article on Heating With Natural Gas.
What about programmable and smart thermostats?
If you’re worried about having to keep up with manual thermostat adjustments day to day, consider purchasing a smart or programmable thermostat, which are both great ways to cut down on energy use. You can read more about their advantages and how they work in our informative blog on Using Smart and Programmable Thermostats.
Conclusion
Making small adjustments to your thermostat throughout the year can lower your monthly energy expenses, reduce strain on your HVAC system and help reduce your impact on the environment, and you’ll likely discover you’ve sacrificed little or nothing in terms of comfort.
Ready to save on natural gas?
