What Is the Best Temperature to Set Your Thermostat in Winter?

As we tiptoe quietly into winter, people are looking at their budgets, the cost of heating a home, and trying to figure out what is the best temperature to set your thermostat to in winter. Many smart thermostats will recommend temperatures for the home, as well as, create a heating pattern that will achieve the temperature with the least amount of energy used. If you don’t have a smart thermostat then you will have to select and/or program this temperature yourself based on the recommendations that make the most sense for you.

Energy saving

There is a lot of conjecture about what is the best temperature to set your thermostat to in winter from the perspective of saving energy.  We try to conserve energy for several reasons, the two main ones being our carbon footprint and the other is cost.  The less energy you draw from your electric company, the better it is for the environment. This is why “Green Energy” products receive Federal tax credits—to slow the progression of greenhouse gases. Less energy used also means less money spent, so it is considered a good thing to lower your energy use during winter. How to do that is up for conjecture.
There are many who will argue that you should set your thermostat to the lowest temperature that you can possibly stand. We’ll revisit this in a moment, but for now we will amend that recommendation to “lowest temperature that will still make you happy.” Lower temperatures do mean lower heating costs, but remember that heating units use more energy when they have to raise a home’s heat quickly. You can actually raise your energy use by setting the temperature too low and forcing the home to come up to your temperature standards too quickly. This is why adaptive thermostats are becoming more popular as they can figure out how to heat the home efficiently based on how long it took to heat the house to a desired temperature in the past.
If energy saving is your sole consideration, then the rule of thumb is to set the thermostat between 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit and then wear sweaters or hoodies in the house as needed.

Responsible temperature setting

While conserving energy is part of being an environmentally conscious human, this must be tempered with some common sense in regards to human health. It is equally important to be responsible about the temperature in the home from a health perspective. Lower temperatures can sometimes be the cause health issues.  New York’s Mount Sinai Medical University conducted a study on temperature as it relates to acquiring colds and flus and deduced that your grandmother who told you to bundle up or you’ll catch a cold was absolutely right. Their study found that colder hair decreases the viscosity of your respiratory track’s natural mucus production, making it more difficult for your body to clean out any of the bacteria, viruses, or contaminants you breathe in. While their study related to colder temperature’s effect on healthy adults, it is a natural progression to make the statement that this is probably more likely an issue for children and the elderly.
In regards to healthy home recommendations, the World Health Organization (WHO)recommends that homes with infants, elderly, or immune compromised individualsshould maintain temperatures of 70°or higher with 64°being the lowest recommended temperature for all other homes to prevent illness.
Illness is a huge consideration during winter months, but so is physical comfort. Barometric pressure is tied to weather. Cold weather can create drops in barometric pressure and in turn this can create swelling of ligaments and those tissues that surround our joints, thus causing unnecessary pain. So when setting those temperatures, be smart about your health and the health of those who live with you and are most vulnerable.

Let it snow, let it snow, let is snow…

Chilly or cold homes are just flat out uncomfortable and uninviting.  Even the word “home” is associated with warmth and shelter. When people talk of home you will often hear the phrase “home and hearth”, implying a warm fire.  There is no getting around the fact that humans enjoy coming home to a warm house. Many of us have fond memories from childhood playing outside in the snow and entering a warm house with hot cocoa waiting. It is the contrast of the cold outside and cozy and warm that makes a warm house so special.
The Danish Hygge trend is all about creating cozy space for reading, knitting, and other soothing activities. It is a winter trend in particular because it takes into consideration the shorter daylight hours and colder temperatures in order to create an inviting home environment. Go to Pinterest and type in “Hygge” and you will see images of soft blankets, hot drinks, and fireplaces. Being warm in winter is actually far more enjoyable to the soul than being warm in summer. So keep that in mind when you are trying to figure out how to best set your temperature make it the temperature this winter. Find the temperature that not only fits your budget, but also makes your house feel like a home.
For the reader, this article probably seems to contain a lot of conflicting opinion and information but that’s also what makes it an honest take on what temperature to set your thermostat in winter. We try to present you with the right information so you can make the decision on your own. Technology is about convenience. The reason we have so-called “smart” products is to help us make these decisions in the first place. Those of you who have a smart thermostat will have in front of you not only a device that is capable of adapting to your preferences but also recommending temperatures and settings. For those who don’t, we tried to do our best to guide you in setting your thermostat this winter.