Across the U.S., it’s a hot summer, and electricity prices are high. Various public officials and corporate websites suggest people set their thermostats to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.6 degrees Celsius), or even 81 F (27.2 C), as a way to stay relatively cool without breaking the bank. But as someone who studies energy costs, I know from both personal and professional experience that it’s not that simple.

The summer after my daughter’s first birthday, she began vomiting in the middle of the night and small bumps covered her chest. I thought it was the blueberries we’d given her. My husband and I cut out acidic foods and changed her milk. At the time, we often kept our thermostat set to 79 F (26.1 C). Before becoming parents, that setting kept the summer electric bill below US$200. We would sleep without blankets and take cold showers like I had in graduate school.

Then, on a cooler night, she kept her blueberries down. After that, I lowered the hallway thermostat setting enough to get her bedroom near 74 F (23.3 C). The nighttime vomiting stopped. My experience as a parent changed how I hear universal recommendations for air conditioner settings, especially during heat waves.

There is no single thermostat setting that is right for every person or every home. And there are other easy, low-cost steps that can help keep everyone comfortable when hot weather sets in.

Air conditioning is a big help, but can be costly

Every piece of cooling equipment is different, in terms of its technical design specifications, and its age and maintenance history. And the homes these systems serve vary in terms of insulation, size, sun exposure, and local climate. So there’s not........

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