Your thermostat setting has a bigger impact on your energy bill than almost any other factor. The Department of Energy estimates that you can save about 3% on your heating/cooling bill for every degree you adjust your thermostat. Here's how to optimize your settings for Georgia's climate.
Recommended Summer Settings
Every degree below 78°F increases your cooling costs by approximately 3–5%. Setting your thermostat to 72°F instead of 78°F can increase your summer electric bill by 18–30%.
Recommended Winter Settings
Lowering your thermostat from 72°F to 68°F can reduce heating costs by 12% or more.
The "Set It and Forget It" Myth
Many homeowners set their thermostat to one temperature and never touch it. While this is better than constant manual adjustments, you're missing significant savings opportunities. A programmable or smart thermostat automates the adjustments for you.
Smart Thermostat Advantages
Smart thermostats like the Nest, Ecobee, and Honeywell Home learn your schedule and preferences, then optimize automatically. Key benefits:
Most homeowners save 10–15% on heating and cooling costs after installing a smart thermostat.
Common Thermostat Mistakes
Cranking the temperature way down — Setting your AC to 60°F doesn't cool your home faster. Your AC cools at the same rate regardless of the setting. You'll just forget to raise it and waste energy.
Turning the system off completely — When you return to a very hot or cold house, your system works overtime to recover. Moderate setbacks (5–8 degrees) are more efficient than complete shutoffs.
Setting the fan to "on" instead of "auto" — The "on" setting runs the blower continuously, even when the system isn't actively cooling or heating. This wastes energy and can increase humidity in summer.
Need help optimizing your thermostat or upgrading to a smart model? Call All Seasons at (770) 809-1355. We serve Carrollton, Villa Rica, and Temple.