Real-world examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings that actually save money

Everyday examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings you can copy

Let’s start with what everyone really wants: specific thermostat numbers you can try today. These are real examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings that line up with guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and utilities across the country.

For most homes in the U.S., a good winter starting point is around 68°F (20°C) when you’re awake and at home, and 60–65°F (15–18°C) when you’re asleep or away. In summer, many households save energy by setting the thermostat to 76–78°F (24–26°C) when home and awake, and 80–82°F (27–28°C) when away or at night, especially if they use fans.

These aren’t rigid rules, but examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings that strike a balance between comfort and savings. From here, you can nudge the temperature up or down a degree or two based on your comfort level, health needs, and local climate.

Examples of winter thermostat settings that save energy without freezing you out

Winter is when heating costs can really sting, so this is where smart thermostat behavior pays off fast. Here are real examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings for a typical winter weekday.

Imagine a household where people wake up at 6:30 a.m., leave for work and school by 8:00 a.m., return around 5:30 p.m., and go to bed at 11:00 p.m.

• Early morning (5:30–8:00 a.m.): Set the thermostat to 67–69°F so the home warms up before everyone gets out of bed. A programmable or smart thermostat can start this automatically about 30–60 minutes before wake-up.
• Daytime away (8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.): Let the temperature drop to around 60–64°F. The DOE suggests turning your thermostat back 7–10°F for 8 hours a day can save around 10% a year on heating and cooling costs (energy.gov).
• Evening at home (5:00–11:00 p.m.): Bring it back to around 67–70°F while people are active, cooking, and moving around.
• Overnight (11:00 p.m.–5:30 a.m.): Drop it again to about 60–65°F and lean on warm bedding instead of burning extra fuel.

If you live in a very cold climate, you might stick closer to the upper end of those ranges. If you’re in a milder climate, you can often go a bit lower while still feeling comfortable.

These patterns give clear examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings that don’t rely on constant fiddling—just a few planned temperature changes over the day.

Summer examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings for cooling

Cooling can quietly eat up a big chunk of your electricity bill, especially if you just leave the thermostat on one low number all summer. Here are examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings for a hot summer weekday, again for a typical 9-to-5 schedule.

• Morning at home (6:30–8:00 a.m.): Keep it around 76–78°F. Open curtains on the cool side of the house for natural light instead of blasting the AC.
• Daytime away (8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.): Let the temperature rise to 80–82°F, or even a bit higher if your home holds cool air well and you don’t have pets or sensitive electronics.
• Evening at home (5:00–11:00 p.m.): Bring it back to 76–78°F while you’re cooking, eating, and relaxing. Use ceiling or box fans to make those temperatures feel cooler; moving air can make a room feel about 4°F cooler.
• Overnight (11:00 p.m.–6:30 a.m.): Many people find 78–80°F comfortable at night with a fan and breathable bedding. If you sleep hot, you might stay closer to 76°F but still use a small set-back when you first fall asleep.

The DOE recommends 78°F as a starting point when you’re home in summer (energy.gov). Even nudging your thermostat up 1–2°F and using a fan can reduce cooling costs noticeably.

Real examples of thermostat schedules for different lifestyles

Not everyone works 9-to-5, and not every home has the same needs. Here are real examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings for different household types.

Example of a thermostat schedule for remote workers

If you’re home most of the day, you can still save without roasting or freezing.

In winter, you might:

• Keep the thermostat around 67–69°F during your working hours.
• Take advantage of sunlight by opening blinds on south-facing windows.
• Drop it to 60–64°F at night.

In summer, you might:

• Set it to 76–78°F during the day while you work.
• Use a desk fan to stay comfortable at slightly higher temperatures.
• Increase to 80°F or so when you step out for errands or the gym.

Example of thermostat settings for families with kids or older adults

If you have infants, older adults, or people with certain medical conditions at home, you might need slightly narrower temperature ranges. The Mayo Clinic notes that older adults can be more sensitive to temperature extremes, especially heat or cold stress (mayoclinic.org).

In winter, many families land around:

• 68–70°F when home and awake.
• 64–66°F at night, especially for bedrooms where people are more temperature-sensitive.

In summer, a lot of families feel good around:

• 75–77°F when home.
• 78–80°F at night with fans, or slightly cooler for nurseries.

You can still follow the same pattern of turning the temperature up or down when everyone is asleep or away—just with a smaller swing.

Example of thermostat settings for pet owners

Healthy dogs and cats generally tolerate a wider range of temperatures than we do, but they still need a safe, stable environment. Many vets suggest keeping indoor temperatures roughly between 65–80°F, depending on the breed and season.

In winter, when pets are home alone, a typical example is:

• 62–66°F during the day while you’re out.

In summer, a pet-friendly example is:

• 78–80°F while you’re away, with plenty of water and shaded areas.

These are examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings that keep your energy use in check without putting your pets at risk.

How much can these examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings actually save?

Let’s talk numbers for a minute. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat back 7–10°F for 8 hours a day from your normal setting (energy.gov).

Here’s how that plays out in real terms:

• If your combined heating and cooling bill is about \(150 a month on average, trimming 10% means about \)180 a year back in your pocket.
• If you live in a region with very high electricity or gas prices, the savings can be even larger.

These examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings—like 68°F in winter days and 60–64°F at night, or 78°F in summer days and 80°F when away—are built around that 7–10°F shift. You don’t have to go to extremes to see results. Even 2–4°F of difference, kept consistent, will show up on your bill.

Using programmable and smart thermostats to automate these examples

If you hate micromanaging your thermostat, technology can do the boring part for you.

Programmable thermostat examples

With a basic programmable thermostat, you can create a simple weekday/weekend pattern based on the examples above. For instance, a winter weekday program might:

• Warm to 68°F by 6:00 a.m.
• Drop to 62°F at 8:00 a.m. when everyone leaves.
• Warm back to 68°F at 5:00 p.m.
• Drop to 62°F again at 11:00 p.m.

That’s a textbook example of an energy-efficient thermostat setting schedule: higher when you’re home and awake, lower when you’re asleep or away.

Smart thermostat examples

Smart thermostats can go a step further. Many models:

• Learn your patterns over time.
• Use occupancy sensors to detect when you’re away.
• Let you adjust settings from your phone if plans change.

A smart thermostat might notice that you often come home earlier on Fridays and automatically start pre-heating or pre-cooling a bit sooner—without you needing to think about it.

Organizations like ENERGY STAR provide guidance on choosing and using smart thermostats effectively (energystar.gov). Pairing their advice with the examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings in this article can help you fine-tune your home for both comfort and savings.

Fine-tuning examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings for your climate

Those 68°F and 78°F example settings are good starting points, but your local climate matters.

• In hot, humid regions (like the U.S. Southeast), you might keep summer settings a bit lower at home—say 75–77°F—but still raise them several degrees when you’re away. Dehumidifiers and ceiling fans can help you tolerate slightly higher thermostat settings.
• In cold northern climates, you may feel better at 69–70°F in winter when home, but you can still drop to 60–64°F at night and when away to save.
• In mild coastal or Mediterranean climates, you may get away with bigger set-backs because your home never gets wildly hot or cold.

The key is to treat these as flexible examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings, not rigid rules. Try a setting for a few days, see how you feel, and adjust by 1–2°F at a time until you find your sweet spot.

Behavior tips that make these thermostat examples work even better

Thermostat settings don’t live in a vacuum. A few small behavior shifts can make those same numbers feel much more comfortable.

• In winter, wear layers, use warm socks, and keep a throw blanket near the couch. Suddenly 66–68°F feels perfectly cozy.
• In summer, switch to lightweight bedding, use fans, and close blinds during the hottest part of the day. That makes 76–78°F feel a lot more pleasant.
• Seal drafts, close doors to unused rooms, and maintain your HVAC system (change filters regularly). These steps help your system hit your chosen settings more efficiently.

When you combine these habits with the best examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings from earlier, you’re stacking the deck in favor of comfort and savings.

FAQ: Real examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings

What are some simple examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings for winter?
A simple winter example is 68°F when you’re home and awake, and 60–64°F when you’re asleep or away. Many households use a schedule like 68°F in the morning and evening, and 62°F overnight and during work hours.

What’s a good example of a summer thermostat setting that saves energy?
A common summer example is 76–78°F when you’re home, and 80–82°F when you’re away or at night with fans running. This lines up with DOE guidance that suggests 78°F as a starting point for cooling.

Are there examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings that work for people who are home all day?
Yes. If you work from home, you might keep 67–69°F in winter and 76–78°F in summer during the day, then still lower or raise the temperature a bit at night or when you step out.

Do these examples include settings for smart thermostats?
They do. Any example of an energy-efficient thermostat setting—like 68°F when home and 62°F when away—can be programmed into a smart thermostat schedule. The smart thermostat can then adjust automatically based on your routine and occupancy.

Can I use the same examples of thermostat settings if I have health issues or older family members at home?
You may want slightly narrower temperature swings, such as 68–70°F in winter and 75–77°F in summer when home, with smaller adjustments at night. Always prioritize health and comfort first, then look for modest set-backs (2–4°F) that still help you save.

If you treat these as starting points—not commandments—you’ll quickly discover your own best examples of energy-efficient thermostat settings. The goal isn’t to win a toughness contest; it’s to keep your home comfortable while quietly trimming your energy use month after month.