It doesn’t matter what season it is, when I’m in bed and trying to sleep I tend to feel hot. Because of that, I almost always need the air conditioning on. And by having the air conditioning on, I mean I like the air in the room to be about 65 or 66 degrees—at least in the summer, anyways.
Apparently, that’s a big no-no according to the federal government, which wants us to keep our houses feeling like the surface of the sun.
To keep your home cool with central air conditioning while also optimizing energy efficiency (and therefore cost), keep the temperature at 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
The suggestion comes from Energy Star, a federal program managed jointly by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency that provides information to consumers about energy efficiency practices that not only save consumers money, but also improve air quality and protect the environment.
With record-breaking heat waves becoming the norm, finding ways to beat the heat without busting your budget might seem mystifying, which is why Energy Star provided consumers with a set of energy-saving recommendations on how to best manage central air conditioning in warmer spring and summer months.
It gets worse. According to Energy Star, while you’re not at home your thermostat should be set to 85 degrees or higher. Because who doesn’t enjoy coming in from the summer heat into a stuffy hothouse? What about people who sweat all summer? Apparently, 78 degrees during the day and 85 degrees at night are supposed to be some sort of relief from the outdoor heat.
Really?
As for overnight, they say you can turn the heat down a whopping three degrees and sleep in 82-degree heat. I guess sleeping in a pool of your own sweat is how Energy Star recommends you cool off.
The only good news about this story is that these are only recommendations and not mandated. For now. Something tells me that there are quite a few 2020 Democrats who would totally push for mandated home climate control regulations in order to prevent catastrophic climate change.
I say if we only have 12 years left, be comfortable in your home and set your thermostat to whatever the hell you want.
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Matt Margolis is the author of Trumping Obama: How President Trump Saved Us From Barack Obama’s Legacy and the bestselling book The Worst President in History: The Legacy of Barack Obama. You can follow Matt on Twitter @MattMargolis
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