Summer is in full swing, and air conditioning is a refreshing and welcome escape from the heat. Just as nobody wants to wear a sweater in the middle of the summer, no one likes to sweat when they are relaxing at home.

When deciding on the ideal temperature to set your thermostat, you have to consider your family’s comfort and your financial bottom line. So, what’s the best thermostat setting for summer that will both help achieve comfort and energy efficiency?

The recommendation of the U.S. Department of Energy is 78° for homes. This temperature setting will allow your family to stay cool while preventing your utility bill from going through the roof. If you are still feeling uncomfortable, it’s best to invest in a dehumidifier or consider our helpful tips for trapping cool air inside your home below.

Help your air conditioning unit provide better cooling while using less energy by preventing cool air from escaping and warm air from getting inside your home.

• Replace old caulk and weatherstripping around windows and doors to keep your home properly sealed.
• Use window treatments that prevent heat and block sunlight from entering through your windows.
• Increase cooling efficiency by installing ceiling fans.
• Limit the use of heat-generating appliances such as the stove or oven. If possible, try to grill outdoors.
• Use energy-efficient cooling units.

If you’re going to be away from home, keep your house warmer to 7-10° higher. This will help you save about 10% on cooling costs. Doing this will also help slow the flow of heat inside your house, and it won’t take a lot of energy to cool things back down as soon as you are home.

A smart thermostat can mean huge savings

While raising the temperature of your thermostat while you’re away from home equates to huge savings, many people forget to change the temperature settings when they leave or enter their homes. A smart (or programmable) thermostat can help do that job for you, as it allows you to program a number of temperatures based on different factors like when you’re away or at home or the time of day.

Keeping utility costs reasonable while staying comfortable during the summer season can be tricky, but it is achievable. NEC Co-op Energy, your Texas electricity company, provides helpful resources on a wide array of topics – including energy efficiency – to help you become an informed consumer.