For efficiency, set your thermostat to 78 in summer

Editor’s note: This column was written by Team Clark Howard staffer Craig Johnson.

They say home is where the heart is, but in the summer it could also be where the heat is — and that’s not cool. If the rising mercury outside is starting to turn your residence into a hotbox, then you may be wondering how you can beat the heat.

When men and women were askedina2017s t udyconducted by air conditioner manufacturer Lennox to identify the biggest energy wasters in their household, it resulted ina nearly event ally (34 percent of men said women and 32 percent of women said men), while 21 percent of both said it was their child or children.

That said, the U.S. Department of Energy has some official recommendations on how to keep your home cool in the summer. But first, let’s answer the often-asked question: What is the best thermostat setting for summertime?

The Energy Department says, “Keep your house warmer than normal when you are away, and lower the thermostat setting to 78°F (26°C) o nlywhen you are at home and needcooling.”

That’s it, folks. To get optimum cooling as well as effi- cient results from your unit, it’s agoo dideatok eep the temperature around 78 degrees when you’re around. Of course, if you have an expansive mansion or multi-sto ry h ome,y ou may need to tweak the settings.

Mon eye xpert Clark Howard says he keeps his thermostat at 78 degrees, as well. “But with the Nest [thermostat], it dials down at bedtime.” That means 74 degrees for the kids rooms and “whatever my wife wants” for their part of the house.

Other members of Team Clark beat the heat in various ways. Grace says that her ceilin gf an has beco mesuchavalued member of her home that ithasan ickname: Gloria. And Clark Inc. General Manager Christa says that she puts her thermosta tat68 degrees at night and 76 during the day.

Included inthegov ernment’s energy advice are some other tips that may even go against your long-held beliefs about heating and cooling.

Do you usu ally set your thermometer colder than you need it just to get the temperature down quickly? “It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense,” says on the Energy.gov website.

Looking to save money on your energy bill? Pay attention to what the temperature is outside to know what to set your thermostat to inside. “The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be,” the nation’s energy department says.