Heat in the USA: what temperature to set on the air conditioner to freshen up, but not catch a cold

If you are lucky enough to have an air conditioner on hot summer days, there are several factors to consider when choosing the right temperature, the publication explains. CBC Lite.

Photo: IStock

Comfort is definitely important on hot days. But the hotter it is outside, the more energy air conditioners consume. This overloads power grids and increases the risk of blackouts.

Additionally, the energy used for cooling forces power plants to burn more fossil fuels, which contributes to global warming. In addition, high electricity bills are also not encouraging.

What to do?

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Recommended temperatures vary

There are many recommendations for adjusting the thermostat, and they cover a wide range of temperatures.

• 28 ° C: Recommended by the Japanese Ministry of Environment for energy saving. This temperature is maintained in offices, as well as in stores, and people are encouraged to abandon the office style in favor of lighter clothing. This temperature is also desirable in South Korea (with the exception of schools and kindergartens, nursing homes and hotels). Toronto Hydro recommends setting it at the same level when you are not home.
• 27 ° C: Recommended by the World Health Organization, which suggests using a fan to make the temperature feel 4°C lower. In Spain, setting thermostats in public places below this temperature is illegal, although for private homes it is only a recommendation. Greece and Italy (excluding hospitals) also use this temperature for public buildings.
• 26 ° C: The maximum summer thermostat temperature recommended by Toronto Hydro is the standard for workplaces in Canada. Some groups want to legislate this as the maximum allowable indoor temperature in Toronto.
• 25,5 ° C: Recommended by Energy Star, a coalition of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and private appliance companies. These standards are also adhered to by the Hong Kong government, which says it strives to strike a balance between energy conservation, CO2 reduction and thermal comfort.
• 25 ° C: Recommended by BC Hydro, which, among other things, suggests turning off your air conditioning when you leave the house for more than an hour.
• 24,5 ° C: Optimum summer temperature according to the Canadian Workplace Ergonomics Standards Association. (Suggested range is 23°C to 26°C.)
• 24 ° C: Recommended by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers for home use during daytime use. Higher temperatures are allowed at night.
• 22 ° C: Considered the standard for air-conditioned spaces in North America. It is based on studies that determine temperature comfort. But these studies have been criticized because they focused on men in business suits. Women prefer higher air temperatures.

26°C is an acceptable temperature for most

“Unfortunately, there is unlikely to be a magic temperature,” said Brendan Haley, director of policy at Efficiency Canada. He noted that everything depends on many factors that change over time, in particular age and health.

Older people and those with chronic illnesses such as heart or kidney failure, or those with schizophrenia are more vulnerable and may be the first to be affected by the heat.

Glen Kenny, a professor of human physiology at the University of Ottawa, said health agencies consider core temperatures between 24°C and 28°C safe for vulnerable people.

In a recent study, he tested a group of older adults aged 65-85. After eight hours at +26°C, they showed no increase in body temperature, heart rate or blood pressure. This suggests that 26°C is a safe room temperature for long stays.

However, Kenny emphasized, +26 °C is still considered uncomfortable. Prolonged exposure to such temperatures can disrupt sleep and, as a result, affect your overall health.

Heat retention reduces energy bills and load on the power grid

Too many air conditioners running at full capacity cause power outages. Because of this, many utility companies recommend setting the thermostat at 26°C rather than 22°C.

Climate scientist Andrew Dessler explains that the higher the temperature difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures, the higher your electricity bill.

“Air conditioning isn't cheap, and climate change is making it even more expensive,” he wrote in his newsletter, The Climate Brink.

Dessler gave the example of a man who wanted to cool his home to 24°C. If the outside temperature rises from 36°C to 38°C due to climate change, it will require 42% more energy.

Jim Bolger, president of Ontario-based HVAC sales and service company Waterloo Energy Products, acknowledged that for some people, a $10 or $20 difference on their energy bill can be significant.

Your Equipment and Your Home Matter

Bolger says it's not so much the thermostat setting that influences energy consumption, but the year and efficiency of the air conditioner, as well as how well the home is insulated and shaded.

If your air conditioner is powered by a geothermal or geoexchange heat pump, it will discharge heat into the ground (instead of into the air). The earth is much cooler than the air, making geothermal systems extremely efficient. In this case, Bolger says, "you won't save anything" by raising the temperature a few degrees.

New, efficient air source heat pumps make indoor air drier. You will feel more comfortable at +24°C with low humidity than at +24°C with high humidity.

Efficiency Canada's Haley noted that it's not just air conditioning that's important, but also how well your home keeps cool and heat out—that is, it's airtight, insulated and shaded.

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What to do at night or when you are not at home

Some areas charge higher electricity rates during peak daytime hours and lower rates at night.

Many utility companies suggest, among other things, raising the thermostat when you're not home. However, Bolger does not advise constantly turning the thermostat left or right more than a few degrees, as this will force your equipment to wear out.

So how do you choose the right temperature?

The President of Waterloo Energy Products responded: “There is always a balance between operating cost savings, efficiency and comfort.”

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