What Temperature Should an Air Conditioner Get Down to in a House?

Comfort

• An air conditioner temperature setting of about 78 degrees Fahrenheit allows most people to stay cool and comfortable, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Lower settings might cause higher utility bills without providing any added benefit. If you don't feel comfortable at 78 degrees, you can simply start the air conditioner at a lower temperature, 72 degrees, for example, and then raise the setting by 1 degree at regular intervals. Leaving the setting at the highest temperature that you can remain comfortable gives you the best value for your dollar.

Fans

• Since air movement affects how cool a person feels in warm weather, fans play an important role in setting a satisfactory temperature for a room. Fans can make a living space feel just as comfortable as when the air conditioner is set 3 to 5 degrees lower without any fans operating. For every degree that fans allow to raise the setting, you save approximately 3 percent on utility costs, according to Energy Star.

Thermostat

• Turning your air conditioner setting back 10 to 15 degrees over eight hours results in saving about 10 percent annually on your cooling costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. You can do this at night when a lower setting is generally not required or at times when no one remains at home. Using a programmable thermostat gives you the option of automatically lowering your home's temperatures at given times. For example, setting the thermostat to increase the temperature at your bedtime and to lower it when you awake keeps you comfortable without having to constantly change the settings manually.

Tips

• Heat coming in through your windows can increase your discomfort during hot summers, leading to unnecessarily low temperature settings that result in higher costs. Use vegetation around your windows on the south and west sides of your house to shield your home's interior from the sun's rays. Opening the top sash of one window and the bottom sash of another also creates a cross-breeze that keeps the room more comfortable.