Thermostat Energy Savings This Winter: What Is US Department of Energy’s Ideal Settings

Cold temperatures might be settling in for good in New Jersey, prompting people to seek warmth and comfort at home. However, staying cozy often comes with the challenge of managing energy use to avoid overburdening heating systems and escalating utility costs.

As the debate wages on what is the right temperature to set for a thermostat in the winter, the US Department of Energy recommended to set the thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter.

Ram Narayanamurthy, deputy director of the US Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office, told USA TODAY that temperatures between 68 to 70 degrees are the best when it comes up keeping your house warm without using too much energy.

The Department of Energy recommended to save even more energy, people can lower the temperature in their homes when they are asleep or away from their residence.

The department said that people can save about 10% a year on heating and cooling by changing the temperature in home by 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day.

Saving money and energy becomes much easier and more practical when the weather is milder and less extreme.

The same method of preserving energy can be used in the summer when it comes to cooling your house down with energy, said the Department of Energy.