Joseph is an HVAC technician and a hobbyist blogger. He’s been working as an HVAC technician for almost 13 years, and he started blogging just...Read more
The ideal thermostat settings for different activities largely depend on the temperature outside and the level of activity taking place. Generally, a lower temperature is better for when you’re asleep or inactive, while a higher temperature is better when you’re awake and active.
At what temperature should you set your thermostat?
Most people believe that there is an ideal temperature for every activity. However, this is not always the case. Here are some general guidelines for setting your thermostat:
-For sleeping, many people find that a cool room (around 65 degrees) promotes better sleep.
-If you’re working at home during the day, you may want to raise the temperature a bit (to around 68 or 70 degrees) to stay comfortable while you’re active.
-When you’re relaxing in the evening or on weekends, you can lower the temp again (to 65 or so) since you’ll likely be inactive for long periods of time.
What are the Ideal Thermostat Settings for Different Activities
activity ideal temp
Housework 68-72°F
Cooking 70-75°F
Eating 75-80°F
Sleeping 65-68°F
The average person’s body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, but this varies depending on age, sex, and activity level.
The ideal temperature for different activities is:
• Housework: 68-72°F This is a comfortable temperature for most people to do light activity in without breaking a sweat. Consider turning the thermostat down a few degrees if you have a lot of windows open or are doing strenuous activity.
Conversely, if it feels chilly indoors, turn the thermostat up slightly to make yourself more comfortable without sacrificing your energy bill too much. Older homes that are drafty may require a higher setting in winter months while newer homes with better insulation can often get away with lower temperatures. • Cooking: 70-75°F Too much heat while cooking can often lead to excessive sweating and discomfort.
If possible, adjust your oven’s thermostat downward by 5 or 10 degrees to find a happy medium between comfort and efficiency. • Eating: 75-80°F When eating out at restaurants or in other public places, the ambient temperature should be around 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit according to the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This ensures that food stays at a safe temperature while also being comfortably warm for diners.
• Sleeping: 65-68°F Most people sleep best in cooler environments since our bodies naturally cool down as we sleep.
How Can I Save Money on My Energy Bill by Using the Proper Thermostat Settings
Saving money on your energy bill by using the proper thermostat settings is easy and can make a big difference in your monthly budget. There are a few things you need to take into consideration when setting your thermostat in order to save money, such as: what temperature you feel comfortable at, what time of day it is, and whether or not you have windows open.
Temperature: The first thing you need to consider is what temperature you feel comfortable at.
Most people generally feel comfortable at around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but this will vary from person to person. If you tend to get cold easily, then you may want to set your thermostat a little higher than 70 degrees. On the other hand, if you tend to get warm easily, then you may want to set your thermostat a little lower than 70 degrees.
Time of Day: The next thing to consider is what time of day it is. During the daytime hours, it is usually best to keep your thermostat set at around 78 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help keep your home cool without causing your energy bill to skyrocket.
However, during nighttime hours, it is perfectly fine (and actually encouraged) to lower your thermostat a few degrees. Doing this will help cut down on how much energy your air conditioner uses while also helping you stay nice and cool throughout the night.
Windows Open: The last thing that needs to be considered is whether or not any windows are open in your home.
If there are windows open, then hot air from outside can come in and cause the temperature inside of your home to rise – even if your air conditioner is running full blast!
Will Changing My Thermostat Settings Help Me Conserve Energy And Reduce My Carbon Footprint
Yes, making adjustments to your thermostat can help reduce your carbon footprint and conserve energy. For example, in the winter you can set your thermostat a few degrees lower than usual to save energy, and in the summer you can do the opposite by setting it a few degrees higher. Additionally, if you have a programmable thermostat you can further conserve energy by setting it to automatically adjust the temperature based on whether anyone is home or not.
What are Some General Tips for Setting My Thermostat Throughout the Day
Assuming you would like tips for saving energy and money:
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78°F (26°C) in the summer and 68°F (20°C) in the winter. These are only suggested temperatures, so you should still feel comfortable while indoors.
For every degree above 78°F (26°C), you can expect to see about a 9% increase in your energy bill. The same goes for every degree below 68°F (20°C).
There are a few things you can do to help make sure your home is at a comfortable temperature without breaking the bank:
-Install a programmable thermostat: This will allow you to set different temperatures for different times of day automatically, so you don’t have to remember to adjust it manually as often.
-Close off any rooms that aren’t being used: If there are rooms in your house that don’t need to be cooled or heated, close the vents or doors leading into those rooms so that the conditioned air isn’t wasted.
-Use ceiling fans: Ceiling fans can help circulate cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter, making any room feel more comfortable without affecting the temperature on your thermostat too much.
Just be sure to turn them off when you leave the room!
Conclusion
It’s no secret that different activities require different levels of comfort. Whether you’re sleeping, working, or entertaining guests, your thermostat settings should be adjusted accordingly. So, what are the ideal thermostat settings for different activities?
Sleep: The National Sleep Foundation recommends keeping your bedroom cool and dark in order to get a good night’s sleep. They suggest setting your thermostat to between 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit.
Work: When you’re focused on work, you don’t want to be too hot or too cold.
The perfect temperature for productivity is said to be around 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Entertaining guests: If you’re hosting friends or family in your home, you’ll want to make sure they’re comfortable. A good rule of thumb is to set your thermostat to about 5 degrees warmer than what you would normally have it set at for yourself.
Joseph is an HVAC technician and a hobbyist blogger. He’s been working as an HVAC technician for almost 13 years, and he started blogging just a couple of years ago. Joseph loves to talk about HVAC devices, their uses, maintenance, installation, fixing, and different problems people face with their HVAC devices. He created Hvacbuster to share his knowledge and decade of experiences with people who don’t have any prior knowledge about these devices.
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