Estimate your heating and cooling cost savings with smart temperature adjustments
This thermostat energy savings calculator estimates your potential cost reduction based on industry research showing that for every 1°F adjustment, you can save approximately 1-3% on your heating or cooling costs.
The calculator uses your current energy bill, HVAC share (the portion dedicated to heating/cooling), and your temperature adjustment to project monthly and annual savings.
Key Assumptions:
Awake: 68-70°F
Asleep: 62-65°F
Away: 60-62°F
Home: 75-78°F
Asleep: 75-78°F
Away: 80-85°F
Programmable thermostats can save an additional 10-15% by automatically adjusting temperatures based on your schedule.
Combine thermostat adjustments with proper insulation, weatherstripping, and regular HVAC maintenance for maximum savings.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save approximately 1% on your heating/cooling costs for every 1°F adjustment you make for an 8-hour period. Adjusting your thermostat by 7-10°F for 8 hours daily can save up to 10% annually on heating and cooling costs.
For heating season, set your thermostat to 68°F while awake and lower it while asleep or away. For cooling season, set it to 78°F when home and higher when away. Each degree of adjustment helps reduce energy consumption.
While larger adjustments save more energy, extreme settings can make your HVAC system work harder to recover comfortable temperatures. The sweet spot is 7-10°F adjustment during sleep or away periods, which balances comfort and efficiency.
This calculator provides estimates based on industry-standard energy savings rates. Actual savings vary based on home insulation, HVAC system efficiency, climate zone, outdoor temperatures, and usage patterns. Use this as a planning guide rather than an exact prediction.
For absences of 4+ hours, adjusting your thermostat is worthwhile. For shorter periods, the energy savings may be minimal. Smart thermostats can learn your schedule and make these adjustments automatically.
Cooling systems typically use more energy per degree of temperature difference than heating systems in many climates. This calculator applies a slightly higher savings percentage (3% vs 2%) for cooling season adjustments to reflect this difference.