Real‑world examples of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings

Everyday examples of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings

Let’s start with concrete, real‑life scenarios. These examples of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings show how small changes add up.

In a typical U.S. suburb, a family of four used to keep their thermostat at 72°F year‑round. Cozy, yes. Efficient, not so much. After talking with their utility, they tried a simple seasonal routine. In winter, they set the thermostat to 68°F during the day when they were home, and 62°F at night and when they were at work or school. In summer, they let the house warm to 78°F while home and 82°F when away. They didn’t change anything else. Over a year, their electric and gas bills dropped by about 10%, which lines up with U.S. Department of Energy guidance that you can save about 1% per degree of setback over an 8‑hour period.

A city apartment dweller offers another example of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings. She works from home in a small, well‑insulated unit. In winter, she keeps the thermostat at 67°F while working, bumps it up to 69°F in the evening, and lets it fall to 63°F overnight. In summer, she keeps it at 76°F during the day with a fan on low, and 78°F when she goes out. Her building’s energy dashboard showed her usage drop compared to her neighbors with similar layouts.

A retired couple in a warmer climate provides one of the best examples of seasonal adjustment. They used to set their thermostat to 75°F all year because they were home most of the time. After learning that heating and cooling together account for about half of home energy use in many U.S. homes (Energy.gov), they experimented. Now, they aim for 68°F in winter days, 64°F at night, and in summer they’re comfortable at 78°F with ceiling fans. Their annual energy statement from the utility showed a double‑digit percentage drop in usage.

These real examples show a pattern: you don’t have to freeze or roast. You just shift your thermostat a few degrees with the seasons and your schedule.

Seasonal settings that work: examples include winter and summer routines

When people ask for examples of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings, they usually want exact numbers. So let’s walk through some everyday routines that many U.S. households can adapt.

In winter, a common pattern looks like this:

You wake up around 6:30 a.m. The thermostat has been at 62°F overnight while everyone was asleep under warm bedding. Around 6 a.m., your programmable or smart thermostat automatically starts warming the house to 68°F. By the time you’re up, it feels comfortable.

By 8:00 a.m., the house is empty. Instead of heating an empty home, the thermostat drops back down to 62°F. Around 4:30 p.m., it starts warming back to 68°F so you walk into a comfortable space after work. By 10:30 p.m., it eases down again for the night.

In summer, flip the logic:

You let the house drift up to 82°F while you’re gone during the day. About 30–45 minutes before you arrive home, the thermostat starts cooling toward 78°F. In the evening, you might run a fan and keep it at 78°F. Overnight, if you sleep better in cooler air, you might drop it to 76°F, or if you’re fine a bit warmer, leave it at 78°F and use a fan.

These examples include the classic energy‑saving pattern: lower in winter when you can bundle up, higher in summer when you can dress light and use fans. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests 68°F as an efficient winter heating setpoint and 78°F for summer cooling when you’re home and awake (Energy.gov thermostat tips). Adjust a degree or two up or down for your comfort, but the basic idea holds.

Real examples for different lifestyles and homes

Not every home or schedule looks the same, so the best examples of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings depend on your situation. Here are some realistic scenarios.

A renter in a drafty older house might not be able to hold 68°F easily in winter without the furnace running constantly. In that case, they might accept 66°F during the day with a sweater and warm socks, and 60°F at night with a heavier blanket. In summer, that same home may stay surprisingly cool if it has shade and good cross‑breezes. The renter could set the thermostat to 80°F and use window fans in the evening, relying less on air conditioning.

A family with young kids might want it a bit warmer in winter. Their winter schedule could be 70°F in the morning and early evening, 66°F during school hours, and 64°F overnight. In summer, they might aim for 76–77°F when everyone is home and 80–82°F when they’re out at activities.

A person who works night shifts is another useful example of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings. Their “overnight” is daytime. In winter, they might keep it 67°F when sleeping during the day and 69°F when awake at night, letting it fall to 62°F when they leave for work. In summer, they might cool to 75–76°F while they sleep during the day and let it rise to 80–82°F when they’re gone.

Remote workers often worry about running heating or cooling all day. One of the best examples for them is zoning their comfort. They keep the whole house at a moderate level—say 66°F in winter or 78°F in summer—and then use a space heater or fan in their office for that extra 2–3°F of comfort instead of cranking the main thermostat.

These examples include a wide range of comfort levels, but they all use the same principle: adjust the thermostat with your actual presence and the season, not just habit.

How much can seasonal thermostat adjustments really save?

It helps to know the math behind these examples of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that you can save around 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat back 7–10°F for 8 hours a day from your normal setting in winter, and doing the reverse in summer (Energy.gov).

In plain language: if you’re used to 72°F all winter, dropping to around 64–65°F while you’re asleep or away can make a noticeable dent in your heating bill. In summer, if you’re used to 72°F, nudging up to 78°F when you’re home and a bit higher when you’re gone can cut your cooling costs.

Utilities and state energy offices publish similar findings. Many report that heating and cooling are still among the largest chunks of household energy use. Even as more homes add efficient heat pumps and better insulation, thermostat behavior still matters in 2024–2025.

Smart thermostats have made it easier to follow through. Some utility programs in the U.S. offer rebates for smart thermostats because they help customers stick to those energy‑saving patterns. They learn your schedule, suggest setpoints, and even tap into local weather forecasts to pre‑heat or pre‑cool more efficiently.

Smart thermostat examples of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings

If you own or can install a smart thermostat, you get even more flexibility. Here are some real examples of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings using smart features.

A busy household with kids in sports uses geofencing. In winter, they set a “home” temperature of 68°F and an “away” temperature of 60°F. The thermostat uses their phones’ locations to switch between the two. In summer, “home” is 78°F and “away” is 83°F. They don’t have to remember to change anything; the thermostat does the seasonal and daily thinking for them.

Another example: a homeowner in a region with big day‑night temperature swings uses pre‑heating and pre‑cooling. In winter, the thermostat slightly over‑heats the house to 69°F right before off‑peak electricity rates end, then lets it coast down to 66–67°F during peak rates. In summer, it pre‑cools the house in the early morning when it’s cooler outside and power is cheaper, then allows the indoor temperature to climb slowly during the hottest hours instead of running the AC nonstop.

Some smart thermostats also suggest seasonal changes automatically. When spring arrives, you might get a prompt: “Last summer, you saved energy by setting your cooling to 78°F while home. Do you want to reuse that schedule?” That nudge is one more example of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings built right into the device.

Climate‑specific examples: cold, hot, and mixed regions

Where you live shapes the best examples of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings.

In very cold climates, like the upper Midwest or northern New England, heating dominates costs. People there often aim for slightly lower winter setpoints and rely on clothing and blankets. A common pattern is 66–67°F when home and awake, 60–62°F when asleep or away. In summer, many of these homes don’t use as much air conditioning, so their savings focus is on spring and fall—waiting longer to turn on the heat, and turning it off earlier.

In very hot climates, like parts of Texas, Arizona, or the Deep South, summer cooling is the big expense. Here, the best examples include higher summer setpoints combined with strong shading and fans. A home might be set to 78–80°F most of the time, with 82–84°F when everyone is gone. Ceiling fans make those temperatures feel cooler by moving air across your skin. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that fans can help you feel cooler, but they are not a substitute for air conditioning during extreme heat events (CDC heat and health), so if there’s a heat wave, comfort and safety come first.

In mixed climates with four distinct seasons, like much of the Midwest, Mid‑Atlantic, and Pacific Northwest, the thermostat dance changes more often. One month you’re maximizing winter setbacks, the next you’re barely using heating or cooling, and then you’re easing into summer AC. These homes can see the biggest annual savings from seasonal adjustments because both heating and cooling are significant.

Small daily habits that support seasonal thermostat savings

Even the best examples of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings work better when you support them with simple habits.

In winter, you can:

Wear layers, warm socks, and use throws on the couch so that 68°F feels comfortable instead of chilly. Close curtains at night to reduce drafts near windows, and open them on sunny days to let in free solar warmth.

In summer, you can:

Use blinds or curtains to block direct sun, especially on east‑ and west‑facing windows. Run ceiling fans so that 78°F feels more like 74–75°F. Cook with a microwave, air fryer, or outdoor grill instead of the oven on the hottest days so you’re not fighting your own heat.

These habits don’t replace thermostat changes; they make those thermostat examples easier to live with.

Health, comfort, and when to ignore the “perfect” example

There’s an important caveat with any example of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings: your health and comfort come first.

Older adults, infants, people with certain medical conditions, or those taking specific medications may be more sensitive to heat and cold. Organizations like the CDC and Mayo Clinic offer guidance on staying safe in extreme temperatures, emphasizing that very cold indoor conditions can increase risks such as hypothermia, and very hot conditions can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

If a recommended 62°F at night in winter leaves someone in your household shivering or worsens a health issue, it’s okay to raise it. If 78°F in summer feels uncomfortably hot, especially during a heat wave, it’s okay to lower it. You might still apply the same pattern—slightly lower in winter when asleep or away, slightly higher in summer when away—just with warmer or cooler absolute numbers.

The best examples of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings are the ones you can actually live with all year.

FAQ: Common questions about seasonal thermostat adjustments

What are some simple examples of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings?
One simple example is setting your winter thermostat to around 68°F when you’re home and awake and dropping it to about 60–62°F when you’re asleep or away. In summer, you might keep it near 78°F when home and let it rise to 82°F when you’re gone. Those small shifts, repeated daily, can trim your heating and cooling costs over the year.

Can you give an example of a thermostat schedule for someone who works from home?
Yes. In winter, a remote worker might use 67°F from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 69°F from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and 63°F overnight. In summer, they might set 76°F during work hours with a fan, 78°F in the evening, and 80°F when they leave for errands. This example of a schedule balances comfort at the desk with savings when rooms aren’t in use.

Do I really save money by changing the thermostat when I’m gone for just a few hours?
Usually, yes. Modern furnaces and air conditioners don’t “work harder” in a way that cancels out the savings. If your home is reasonably insulated, letting it drift a few degrees while you’re out and then bringing it back when you return typically uses less energy than holding a constant temperature all day.

What if I have a heat pump—do these examples still apply?
They do, but with a bit more care. Large temperature swings can sometimes trigger electric resistance backup heat in older heat pump systems, which is less efficient. Many newer smart thermostats and modern heat pumps are better at handling setbacks. Check your system’s manual or your installer’s advice, and use smaller, steady adjustments if you’re unsure.

How do smart thermostats fit into these examples of seasonal savings?
Smart thermostats automate many of the examples described here. They can learn your schedule, use your phone’s location to switch between home and away settings, and even suggest seasonal setpoints based on your past behavior. That means you get the benefit of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings without constantly fiddling with the controls.

Are there times when I should ignore energy‑saving thermostat advice?
Yes. During extreme cold or heat, or if someone in your home is medically vulnerable, safety and health outweigh savings. Keep indoor temperatures in a safe range and use other strategies—like improving insulation or sealing air leaks—to cut costs without risking anyone’s well‑being.

By using these real‑world examples of adjust your thermostat seasonally for savings as a starting point, you can fine‑tune a schedule that fits your climate, your comfort, and your budget—no suffering required.