Thermostat temperature winter

[Anonymous]

I know the Department of Energy says the ideal thermostat temperature is 68 when you are awake, 66 when you are asleep. I tried to keep it at 69 during the day, but today I find it too cold, so upped it to 70. At night I feel even colder so upper it to 72.
Is it normal to set it between 70-72 instead of 66-68?

I do want to stay in solidarity with Europe and Ukraine who are freezing because of the war. I also care about the environment. But I have two small children in the house so I can’t really let them freeze.

Is my thermostat setting unethical?

[Anonymous]

Sheesh what are you wearing? I like it 66 day and night. Actually I like it warmer at night because my body temp drops and I get cold.

I have a robe (3/4 length bamboo) I love to wear at home and Ugg slippers. Those two keep me toasty and I’m a small petite woman.

[Anonymous]

No, it's not. Consuming less energy won't improve prices or conditions in Europe/Ukraine, though it may help with climate change. I'm from Europe and my Thermostat is set at 74 (actual temp is more like 68-72 depending on the location within our condo).

[Anonymous]

You put your thermostat on whatever temp you'd like. I keep mine on 74 when I am home. Greenwashing isn't a religion I follow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know the Department of Energy says the ideal thermostat temperature is 68 when you are awake, 66 when you are asleep. I tried to keep it at 69 during the day, but today I find it too cold, so upped it to 70. At night I feel even colder so upper it to 72.
Is it normal to set it between 70-72 instead of 66-68?

I do want to stay in solidarity with Europe and Ukraine who are freezing because of the war. I also care about the environment. But I have two small children in the house so I can’t really let them freeze.

Is my thermostat setting unethical?

Kids aren’t going to freeze at 66. Put a sweater on.

[Anonymous]

Check the insulation and caulking along the doors and windows. My house is fine at the 66-68 temperatures, but we’re well insulated.

[Anonymous]

Get a heated mattresss pad.

According to weather.com, it's 30 degrees outside where I live (not DMV). I don't even have the heat on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check the insulation and caulking along the doors and windows. My house is fine at the 66-68 temperatures, but we’re well insulated.

Same. Well insulated home. I’m fine at 66 and feel cold normally.

[Anonymous]

Thermostats are often inaccurate, and temperatures vary throughout the house and even within a room. Get an accurate thermometer and measure the temperature where you are spending time if you're worried that your body isn't dealing well with the temperature.

To a certain extent your body responds to the usual temperature and you get used to it. But if you spend most of the day somewhere else that's the temperature your body is going to be used to.

At the end of the day, the whole purpose of heating is comfort. If you put the temperature slightly above freezing your pipes wouldn't freeze and you wouldn't die; anything above that is just for comfort. So put the thermostat where you feel comfortable.

Don't worry about the kids, they're generally more flexible than adults when it comes to temperature.

[Anonymous]

72 day and night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check the insulation and caulking along the doors and windows. My house is fine at the 66-68 temperatures, but we’re well insulated.

This is OP. We already spent some 30 in insulation, changing windows and converting drafty fireplace to direct vent gas fireplace . This is a modest 1980s colonial of around 5,000 sqft, located in NoVa. My gas bill in winter ranges from 150 (warmer month like November ) to 400 (snowing month like Jan/Feb). Is it too out of line? We could perhaps spend another couple thousand to enhance insulation in attic tho.

[Anonymous]

I do 67 during the day when I’m home and 62 overnight.

If I’m sitting still working all day, I sometimes get chilly at 67 so I keep a blanket or wrap near by. My kids run hot and are usually barefoot and in tshirts.

At night we all sleep better if the room is cold and we have lots of blankets.

[Anonymous]

We set ours to 67 during the day and let it drop to 56 at night. I guess we are unusual, but we like to sleep in a cold house with lots of blankets. It feels healthier, somehow. I have slept at other people's houses and often wake up hot and uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

68 day, 64 night. Kids are fine, I’m a little chilly during the day. Part of the issue is that my office runs between 75-78 during the day. So I get home and 68 feels frigid.

[Anonymous]

72 until 11 pm and 68 or 69 overnight. During the day I am mostly sedentary working at home or in the evening watching TV, and I feel too cold to go below 72. If I'm moving around, it feels warm.