United States. The Energy Star program recommends that people keep their home thermostats in a setpoint of temperatures to cool between 78 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (25 to 29 degrees Celsius).
The program suggests different settings to automate at various times: 78 degrees when you wake up (25 °C), 85 degrees during the day (29 °C) and 82 degrees (27 °C) when you are sleeping.
Energy Star says that "the key is to establish a program that automatically reduces your home's heating and cooling when you don't need it. To save energy, consider a temperature setting of 7 degrees Fahrenheit in summer and an 8 degrees Fahrenheit setback in winter when your home is unoccupied for long periods of time and a setting of 4 degrees Fahrenheit when occupants are asleep."
Energy Star says homeowners can save about $180 a year with a properly configured programmable thermostat.
The U.S. Department of Energy also encourages homeowners to keep their thermostats at 78 degrees Fahrenheit when at home. "Set your thermostat as high as possible in summer," the energy department explains on its site. "The smaller the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill."
However, according to the National Sleep Foundation, a room somewhere around 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 °C) is the best sleep.
Outside the home and in the office environment, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends temperatures between 68 (20 °C) and 76 degrees (24 °C) and humidity control in the range of 20%-60%.
The public has not reacted very well to these recommendations, as they ensure that these temperatures do not generate enough comfort to implement an air conditioning system.
Source: Energy Star.
