Ask Focus on Energy

The highest temperature you are most comfortable at.

The best temperature to keep the air conditioner at is the highest temperature at which you are comfortable. Then, when you are asleep or gone, raise the temperature on your thermostat. If you're thinking about opening windows at night, make sure that the nighttime air will be both cool and dry (not too humid). Otherwise the air conditioner will need to run more the next day to remove that added heat and moisture.
Other summer cooling tips include:

• Close the draperies on south- and west-facing windows to reduce solar heat gain (when heat enters your home).
• Limit the amount of cooking you do and use smaller appliances like toaster ovens, microwaves or cook outside on the grill.
• Landscaping is a natural and beautiful way to keep your home cool in summer. Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25 percent of a typical household’s energy used for cooling.
• Using a ceiling fan in combination with your air conditioner, will allow you to raise your thermostat setting by as much as four degrees without reducing your comfort. Be sure to turn the fan off when you’re not in the room to save energy – ceiling fans cool people, not rooms.

Visit the Focus Web site for more tips on how to stay cool and save energy.