Where do you keep your thermostat set?

[Libby Pritchett]

Just curious what the norm is for your thermostat during summer and winter. We had our electric company come out yesterday to give us a new "energy saver" thermostat, and he was saying that the recommendation is 78 in summer and 68 in winter. That seems awfully extreme to me.

We usually have the house at 75 or 76 during the summer and around 69-70 in the winter. I thought we were doing pretty good. LOL

(FYI our house is really old -- almost 100 years -- and there is no insulation. So, the unit has to run a lot to heat or cool no matter where we have it set. Our utility bills are outrageous).

[neenee]

Mine stays at about 72 year round. I like it cold. My kids call our house the Ice Castle.....I tell them if they can't take it....put on some sweats!:p

[Tracie Stroud]

Dude. There's no way I could do 78 in the summer. We'd suffocate. We do about 73 in the summer, and 70ish in the winter.

[ColleenSwerb]

I think we do 72 year round. We have it programmed to not go higher than 80 while we're at work, and overnight during the summer. I think in the winter it's not lower than 65 or so. Jordan handles it, and for the most part I don't mess with it. I'm always in sweats and under blankets in the winter and usually have on pants in the summer too, lol. I'm ALWAYS cold.

[BrattyMeg]

well...i keep it at 77-78 in the summer unless it's really hot I'll move it do 75 for a few hours in the evening to cool off upstairs. I think it depends on the house too like we spend so much time in the basement and even at 78 the upstairs area might be a tad warm but downstairs it's nice and cool.

Winter I keep it around 70ish give or take a degree or two depending on the weather. My fave is like late winter/early spring when neither have to be on! lol

Hey Libby my electric bill was $481 this month lol we have an older home too (although it's been remodeled) and crappy windows. It's on our list to replace our windows this year hopefully that'll help.

[Jengerbread88]

We keep it 72 year round... it's easier on us, and our bills, if we don't change it at all between summer and winter...

[Leah]

I would die at your houses. lol We keep ours between 68-69F (20-21C) year round.

[mdb21]

I'd die, too - right now mine is set at 67. In the winter, it's usually around 68-70.

[farrijc]

78 in the summer, 70 in the winter. I would LOVE to keep it cooler in the summer but I'm not willing to pay that electric bill! We pretty much have fans in every room of the house and run them all summer to make it bearable.

[mummytothree]

We have an oldish house (obviously not 100 years old) but it was built in the early 70's. Most of our windows are new (except out bedroom) and they are all double pained...but they are weird...they are those really small rectangular windows that are really high (almost to the top of the ceiling) and they all have aluminum canopies on them on the outside. Also all our walls are that think plaster type so I'm not sure what type (or if any) of installation we have but anyways we have gas heat and we keep the furnace at 66 during the winter. If it's double digits below zero we will bump it up to 68. It seems our house holds heat well.

We don't have CA, but we use window units and we don't turn those on in the bedrooms until about an hour before nap/bed. We have our electric on a budget (about $88 a month) and it is usually spot on...we usually only end up paying an extra 20 to 30 bucks at the end of the "cycle".

[Megan Turnidge]

78 in the summer and 65 in the winter... though that's not where I'd like to set it... it's just to save money. I'd rather set it at 73 in the summer and 70 in the winter.

[aggiefamily]

In the summer it is programmed to do this:
9 am- 78
5 pm- 77
9pm- 75


It is never hot in here. Compared to the usual 90+ degrees and high humidity outside it is very cool inside. My office is the only room that gets warm because it has 4 windows that get the evening sun. Our ac will usually only run in the afternoon. But we also have 4 oaks trees providing shade and ceiling fans in every room. Our house is also old- I think around 65 years old. It was insulated at one time and has solid wood walls.

Not sure about the winter because we just moved here. Our normal winter temp is 68 or so.

We haven't gotten a full month's bill in the new house. I know our highest at our previous house was close to $300 and it was a new home.

[cardinalskate]

We have it around 73 in the summer and 70 in the winter. I bump it up or down how I please, though, because I'm not gonna be miserable in my own home! I HATE the heat. But in the winter, we're often under blankies if we're just hanging around watching TV.

[Darcy Baldwin]

We run ours a 80+ in the summer until about an hour before Russ comes home and I drop it to 78. In the winter...we keep it on 65.

[aggiefamily]

Dude. There's no way I could do 78 in the summer. We'd suffocate. We do about 73 in the summer, and 70ish in the winter.

I think it all depends on your home. If I put it on 73 here it would be freezing!

[emmasmommy]

76 in summer, 71/72 in winter

[Sarah8914]

I think it depends on where you live too. If your high outside is only 85 or 90... then yes, 78-80 would feel hot. But when it's 105 outside, 78 feels great!

Ours is at 77 right now, but working up the nerve to move it to 78. If I get too hot, I'll lower it a little. I never even feel warm. Though, I would much rather keep it around 74, but I like to save!

In the winter, I can't remember... I think I keep it around 70. Maybe 69, but if I get cold I move it up--and if we have babies, I don't want them to get cold either!

[MandaT]

We are in a double wide mobile, no shade whatsoever, sliding glass door faces the sun most of the day.

Summer 79-80*, and I refuse to turn it on before July. Normally we leave everything open during the night (8pm until around 10am) & then turn the house into a cave, shade & curtains all shut. I keep 1 rotating fan on in the living room/dining/kitchen area.

Winter 68*, & we open up all the curtains/shades if the sun is out to get the heat.

In winter our power bill is about $125-140 (Jan/Feb/March usually the highest). Summer it runs between $65-100 depending on the month (usually Aug/Sept are highest)

ETA: Our highs are usually around 90-105* in the peak of summer & winter we range around 25-40*

[Traci Reed]

78/68 California utilities are stupid expensive...I only turn the AC/heat on if it's over 90 or under 65 outside, otherwise we have fans and blankets.

[Darcy Baldwin]

We are in a double wide mobile, no shade whatsoever, sliding glass door faces the sun most of the day.


Have you ever looked into window tinting that you can get from the hardware stores? It REALLY helps on big windows like that. Our boys' room gets all the afternoon heat in their window in the summer, and we could feel a significant drop in temperature as we put it up..it was immediate. It helped their room tons, without having to adjust the thermostat.

[DawnMarch]

We are at 79 in the summer (sometimes I'll click it down a notch if I really can't stand it). In the winter, we just turn the power off on the system. Electric A/C is really hot here during the day, so I'd love to have it cooler but heating bills are already $500+ in the summer as it is!

[CA Dreamer]

We keep it around 76F in the summer and only turn on the heat at around 62F in the winter. Today we will be over 100, so 76 actually feels cool!

[MamaBee]

72 in winter - that is for sure... Summer - that is an epic battle between the spouses! I love heat and unless it's unbearable due to humidity, the AC is off and windows wide open... if my hubby had control all day long, he would have the air on the minute the temp was 68 outside!! So, if the house becomes 80+ inside, I'll turn on the air... then it is set at about 76 or so.

oohh... 68 in winter - I could not do it... way too cold in the house, I'd be sick all the time! So I go by my mom - I rather pay a bit more in heating than have to shell it over to the doctor's office... heehhee

[aggiefamily]

Have you ever looked into window tinting that you can get from the hardware stores? It REALLY helps on big windows like that. Our boys' room gets all the afternoon heat in their window in the summer, and we could feel a significant drop in temperature as we put it up..it was immediate. It helped their room tons, without having to adjust the thermostat.

We didn't tint the boys windows but I did put up thermal drapes. We also added a window unit to their room and closed the ac vent. Their room is an addition so the central air was not as efficient in that part of the house. The rest of the house would be cold while trying to keep their room cool. Their window unit is set on 68 on econ mode. It comes on once an hour to check the temp and if needed will run, if not it will shut off until the next hour. It usually only runs in the afternoon.

[aggiefamily]

oohh... 68 in winter - I could not do it... way too cold in the house, I'd be sick all the time! So I go by my mom - I rather pay a bit more in heating than have to shell it over to the doctor's office... heehhee

HA! It barely gets below 68 in the winter here. Our heater seldom runs in the winter.

[AmberK]

74 in the summer during the day- 68 at night. I usually bump it down in the afternoon because we have a large window that lets a lot of heat in the living room and Im so hot natured that I just cant stand it.

68 during the winter.

[MissKim]

We just had a digital thermostat put in our house (also a double wide, but no sliding glass door thank heavens!). We keep it at 80 during the day, but I get so cold I find myself getting it up to 82 mid-day. We also have a ceiling fan and rotating fan in the living room and we spend most of our time in the living room.

We have blackout curtains in the living room and master (although I can't handle sitting in the dark, so I always have the living room open). Just bought the kids new curtains at Wal-mart that promised to be energy reducing, and so far they're really working. I'm impressed.

Winter we do 68 at night and 72 when we're home. I like sleeping under tons of blankets and in fact have trouble when it gets too hot to have multiple layers of blankets. However, I'm too cheap to really jack down the A/C.

School district keeps it at 76 for a/c and 72 for heat. When we start back to school and it's 100 degrees outside, the 76 feels like 86. Not sure if the thermostats don't read correctly or if a classroom is just too big to be cooled properly. I'd rather be able to mess with that thermostat than the one at home, but it's controlled by downtown (not even our principal can change it... and heaven forbid we have a meeting and stay late... it's shut off at 5 pm every day).

[MandaT]

Have you ever looked into window tinting that you can get from the hardware stores? It REALLY helps on big windows like that. Our boys' room gets all the afternoon heat in their window in the summer, and we could feel a significant drop in temperature as we put it up..it was immediate. It helped their room tons, without having to adjust the thermostat.

We haven't, but we rent... so if it's a permanent thing it wouldn't go over well. Last summer we just had the blinds & that keeps most of the heat/cold out, and this winter I hung curtains in all the rooms, hoping it will help this summer as well as it did this winter. :thumbup:

[Aimeemomof2+]

In the winter we keep it at 65*. It is freezing cold, and I hate it...but we do it to save money. Everyone else in my family keeps theirs at 61....I cannot stand that, I think I would freeze to death. I already wear long underwear, and 2+ layers of clothes. (we are in central OH, so it does get (and stay) in the 20s...esp at night)

In the summer, I turn the A/C off every day in the AM. I will open the windows if it is cool, if it is really hot I try to keep the house shut up. When DH calls and says he is on his way home from work, I will turn on the A/C to 78*. He hates heat and works outside all day in it. I love it hot, and could easily live without AC.

[Stacey42]

Winter we are around 68-70F depending on how windy it is out, if it is bitter wind chill we go up to 72.

Summer I keep it around 82F during the day & set it back to 77F at night. Even when it was up around 105F if I felt warm in the house I just walked to the mailbox & back & suddenly the house was so cool feeling :)

We have an underground home & it keeps the cool/heat in pretty well. Downside is around 4pm winter & summer it starts either cooling off or warming up in the wrong direction. We have sliding glass doors in every room and use sheer curtains on them, open them in the morning & draw them around 3pm in the summer. Leave them closed in the morning & open them around noon in the winter. Helps use the sun more effectively.

[Darcy Baldwin]

We haven't, but we rent... so if it's a permanent thing it wouldn't go over well. Last summer we just had the blinds & that keeps most of the heat/cold out, and this winter I hung curtains in all the rooms, hoping it will help this summer as well as it did this winter. :thumbup:

It can be removed if you don't want to use it anymore. It's about $25 per large window. It really helped!

[carriesmom]

In the summer, it is generally 78-76. It's higher if DH is not at home. Swear he is part Eskimo. In the winter, I honestly don't know. We generally run a fan and blankets, we maybe run the heat a month tops. Summers are brutal. 120s.

[jessica31876]

72 in the summer. Winter I try not to turn the heat on.

[Jengerbread88]

I would die at your houses. lol We keep ours between 68-69F (20-21C) year round.

I *do* die. I sleep with a ceiling fan and at least one portable fan in summer, usually 2.

My grandma keeps her house at 80. I can't sleep there. I've even taken 3 portable fans and used her box fan, and still can't get it cool enough.

[marlathrall]

I'm a weirdo, I guess. We keep our house at 69 all year long. My husband works outside and refuses to be hot when he's at home.

We do have a well insulated brick house with new windows. It's big, 3500 square feet, but the electric bill runs about 400 in the summer. Maybe electricity is cheaper in Oklahoma?

[color of my heart]

I would die at your houses. lol We keep ours between 68-69F (20-21C) year round.

if i could do this, i would. i prefer cooler temps. if i'm cold, i put on socks and grab a blanket.

mom keeps the house around 72 in the winter, and around 70 in the summer. unless the AC is on, and then the heat goes way down.

[shupe]

We keep ours at 78 in the summer although I would love it a little cooler and at 66 in the winter although I would love it a little warmer :)

[Nettio]

I think it depends on where you live too. If your high outside is only 85 or 90... then yes, 78-80 would feel hot. But when it's 105 outside, 78 feels great!

Yes, exactly, temperature is all relative!

In Colorado, where our summer highs were in the mid 80s to low 90s, I would have died at 78. I would often put it down to 74 or even 72 and that was sometimes hot. But here in Texas we have it set at 78 and it's about right. I actually think maybe 80 would be fine now that it's 100+ outside. We do lower it at night to I think 74? because we both sleep better when it's cooler and the nights here don't really cool off more than maybe 10 degrees.

In the winter, we had it set to 70 here in TX. We tried the whole 68 degree thing in CO and I froze so we usually had it at 72-74.

[4noisyboys]

We never have ours set. If we need it we use it right then. The AC is on today, but I'm cleaning and getting ready for company tomorrow, and it's about 100 outside.

I won't use the AC much though. Only if I need it, and same with the heater. Sometimes we just turn it on to take the chill off if it's a cold morning or evening. I live in Southern California though...so the weather is pretty nice most of the time.

[julifish]

We live in Fla in a pretty large 2 story. We keep the second story in the 80's during the day in summer and then set it to cool to 78 by the kid's bed time. Downstairs we do 80's during the day and then 78 by 5pm until 10 pm.

In the winter we keep the heat at 60 unless it's really cold and then sometimes if we are home all day or it's really cold at night we bump it up to 65.

[Melissa Bennett]

We keep ours at 78 during the summer to help save on the bill, plus we have a budget plan where we pay a certain amount each month so we don't have huge bills during the really cold or really hot months of the year. Works out good.

[rach3975]

Ours is at 77 right now, and I'm wrapped in a blanket, LOL. I'd gladly go higher, but DH would roast. It's a yearound battle between us because I hate to be cold and he hates to be hot. In the winter we probably keep it at about 72 (can be as high as 75 if it's cold enough outside :o ).

The type of heat you have matters in how your house feels, too. My parents have a furnace, and if they set the heat to anything above 68 I start sweating. We have a heat pump, and it doesn't seem to warm the house enough no matter how high we set it. Our houses were built within a year of each other, and they're the same style and seem to be insulated about the same amount.

[Victoria Feemster]

Ours is usually 82-82 year round. Our whole house is tile and in the winter it just seems to be cold. Summer sometimes we might lower it to 78-80 a bit. Today was 111 outside but the house was at 84. Now, where I work I think I would die that hot lol It's usually 69 or 70 or something at work and most of the time it's comfortable. Some days too cold and others too hot.

[mariewilcox]

In the winter it's set to 65 during the day and 60 at night. I have a nice fireplace in the main room that pumps a ton of heat, so that is going all day in the winter and the furnace only kicks in at night when the fire is down or on days I don't build a fire.

No A/C here - the A/C is the breeze off the lake that is pretty constant. On the rare day that it's a bit humid and the temp hits 80 or above, we just get a couple fans out and have them going. At night it almost always cools down into the 60s so sleeping isn't much of an issue - love the mountain air!

[pewtertm]

Ours is usually set at 75-76. Sad to say it broke down last night and today's high is supposed to be 99. :crying:

[tanyiadeskins]

I guess I like it cold as well lol. It is set at 69 now, and all summer. In the winter I bump it to 71ish