# Northern Hemisphere Dopers: At what temperature is your thermostat set? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 14, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001 "2005-11-14T16:01:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/1 "2005-11-14T16:01:53Z")
It’s getting cold here in Central Indiana, and hubby and I have turned on the furnace. We’re cheap, so we keep ours set at 68 degrees (F) and wear flannel PJs if we get cold. How 'bout you? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/2 "2005-11-14T16:13:10Z")
About 60 when I’m asleep or not home, 68 when I’m there and conscious. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/3 "2005-11-14T16:19:02Z")
Around 64F. Varies with time of day on a programmable Stat. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/4 "2005-11-14T16:29:33Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > Around 64F. Varies with time of day on a programmable Stat. Same here. We, too, have a programmable thermostat. The base temperature is set at 60_F during the winter. The furnace only comes on for an hour in the morning and again at night at supper time when the temperature goes to 65_F. If any of us get chilled, we put on sweaters or grab a comforter for our legs while watching TV. No need in the computer room for any of that though. It stays at a comfy 68\*F from all the hot air generated on the SDMB. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/5 "2005-11-14T16:32:38Z")
I have a programmable thermostat that cuts out when we’re not home. The operating temperature is 21 celcius (around 70 degrees F), which seems much, but it’s a 1934 aparment with single glass panes, so a lot of heat loss in the living room. When we’re not there, the base temperature is set at 15 degrees (59 F). We don’t want the cats to be too cold. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/6 "2005-11-14T16:39:55Z")
1. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/7 "2005-11-14T16:43:52Z")
Upstairs: 65 Downstairs: 55 ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/8 "2005-11-14T16:50:40Z")
We’ve got 7-zone electric heat, with thermoststs of varying efficiency and accuracy. SmithWife is home with the kids all day, so we typically burn it at 70 F. ☹ Day and night. If I had my 'druthers, I’d set it at 66 F during the day and 64 F at night. Oh well. We’re on a budget with the ElectricCo though, and if I can ever scrape the money together I’m going to add central a/c and forced hot air heat. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/9 "2005-11-14T16:54:31Z")
The only time the thermostat is at 68F is from 5:30-7:30 am (waking up time). Overnight it’s at 62F, daytime 64F. Unfortunately, my basement is not insulated well. Okay, it’s not insulated period. Earth, cinderblock, inside. And I work down here. I’m wearing wooly socks, sweats, long sleeve t-shirt, sweatshirt and am covered in my blankie. I hope my blood thickens soon otherwise I’m going to be a fricking popsicle. ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/10 "2005-11-14T16:56:32Z")
We keep it at about 68-70 F during the day (year-round) and turn it down to 60-65 F at night in winter only; during summer, we don’t necessarily turn it down that low, as it would activate the air conditioning, and we try to be thrifty in our power usage. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/11 "2005-11-14T16:56:49Z")
Default all day is 64-65. We kick it up to 68 after dinner, then back to 64 at bedtime. I also turn it to 80 or so right after I get out of bed in the morning, so that by the time I finish my shower, the bedroom isn’t so cold. Then back to default as I leave the house. The wife is a furnace on legs, so she likes it cool all day. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/12 "2005-11-14T16:58:17Z")
I have an older apartment, which maens the gas (or oil, I don’;t know which) for the heat is one tank shatred by all four apartments in the building, which means there’s no way for the landlord to accuratly charge for haet, so it’s included in the rent. Whihcm eans I set that baby as high as I want it. 😃 Usually, it’s at about 70. Although setting it to 70 tends to actually make the apartment anywhere from about 70 in the kitcehn, to 75 in my bedroom, to actually 65 in the living room. The low living room temp is due to a closed up attic. The door is there, but nothing is behindf the door to keep the cold air from the attic from seepuing int my apartment. The crack at the bottom of the door is the worst spot, so the floor temp ion the living room is probably close to 60. Of course, this is just the temps i have had so far since May. Hopefully, when it gets to twety below in mid-January, the cold air from the attic won’t be too bad. If it is, I’ll have to do something about it. Buy some of that cheap styrofoam-esque insulation and put a sheet of it behind the door. ---
**Author:** ![Nimue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Nimue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nimue)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/13 "2005-11-14T17:28:37Z")
Last few years we had ours set around the low 60’s depending on time of day. This year we’re using a wood burning fireplace insert to heat the house. It can get the house up to the mid 80’s. At that point we let the fire go out, and when the temperature has dropped back into the mid to high 60’s, we light it again. Still remains to be seen how freezing temps day and night will affect our usage. We may have to keep the fire going nearly 24/7. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/14 "2005-11-14T17:29:50Z")
It’s still 80°F here in Texas 😃 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/15 "2005-11-14T17:31:15Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > It’s still 80°F here in Texas 😃 I guess the OP should have said “Northern Northern Hemispere Dopers” ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/16 "2005-11-14T17:32:14Z")
We had the A/C on for a bit yesterday, but mostly just open windows. When it’s on we set it at 78 F (if anyone’s home) and during the day at 80 F. I forget what we set it to if it’s on heat. Of course we’re still in the mid 80s for our daytime temps, and down to the 60s at night. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/17 "2005-11-14T17:34:25Z")
68 during waking hours, 62 during sleeping hours (after 11 PM weekends, 10:30 weeknights). My S.O and I have different hours (she works night, I work days), so there’s a 65-degree window on weekdays between the time I get up and she gets up. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/18 "2005-11-14T17:35:29Z")
I don’t have a thermostat. Rather, every room has a separate heater - I live in an apartment. It sure does make it cheaper. I haven’t run the heat yet, it was over 50 degrees this weekend and certainly don’t need heat for that. Friday night was the only night I was tempted, as it went down to 24 degrees, but we managed. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/19 "2005-11-14T17:47:48Z")
When I’m home and awake, 65°F. When I’m away, or when I go to bed, I turn the heater off. (I use an electric blanket in bed.) ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001/20 "2005-11-14T17:56:31Z")
I keep it at 60º unless I’m in the shower. Then it’s up to 68º (Luxury!). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-hemisphere-dopers-at-what-temperature-is-your-thermostat-set/331001.md?page=2)