My roommates keep the thermostat at 60. I prefer it 65-68. What to do?

Great question. The "low temp" that would be cost-effective is determined on the length of time it would be at that lower temperature. These numbers are approximate and vary per climate and household:

- Under 4 hours: leave at the high temp.

- 4-6 hours: 55-60º

- 6-10 hours: 50-55º

- Over 10 hours: as low as possible without causing harm to the plumbing, etc. (Keep in mind the location of your thermostat. If you have plumbing near an exterior wall, or in a room that stays colder than the room your thermostat is in, always make sure the coldest spot in your house that has plumbing stays at least a few degrees above freezing. So, for instance if you have an unfinished basement that is normally at 55 degrees on a cold winter day while it's 68 upstairs, it might drop below freezing down there if your house temp goes down into the 40s or even low 50s!)

A programmable thermostat really shines in these set-back situations as you can set the temperate to rise back up to your occupied temp starting 30-60 minutes before you get home and you'd never even know it was so cold during that previous period.

Thanks for that response. That is exactly the info I was looking for. We use a programmable thermostat and are quite good about not wasting heat while we are not at home but the "how low can you go" question I have a hard time finding a good answer to. Thanks so much. This is super helpful!

And one last thing: We live in Central Oregon (high desert), so what part of that 5 degree range is best in this climate in house that has decent insulation, with lots of big double pane windows, 2000 sq. feet?

I was acclimated to cold once living outdoors for a period of time. Below freezing is the only cold temps that are physically uncomfortable for me when it comes to lounging and sleeping. I feel like I am suffocating if it's any warmer than 60 indoors when it's very cold outside.

My parents leave windows and doors open when its 50 degrees outside. If I tell them I'm cold they tell me to put a sweater on. It works. My sister doesn't even put her heating on. In the winter you have to scrape the frost off the inside of her windows.

I admit, anything under 70 & I'm freezing. I'm wearing heavy socks, t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, heavy sweater, jeans & it's 71.8 in the apt & I'm still freezing.

The heat is included in the rent, so the landlord's in charge of the setting.

cold man wrote:

And one last thing: We live in Central Oregon (high desert), so what part of that 5 degree range is best in this climate in house that has decent insulation, with lots of big double pane windows, 2000 sq. feet?

The more efficient the home is at retaining heat, the lower you can go with your temperature during unoccupied times. Also, if you have a lot of "things" on your house it will take longer and more energy to get everything warm again than a more minimalist design. The vast majority of energy when warming up your house back to the higher temp is warming up the objects and wall/ceiling surfaces again. Of course, everything is very subjective here, so it's hard for me to pinpoint an ideal temperature with a range less than 5º.

When a homeowner tells me they have "decent insulation" usually that means "not nearly enough insulation. A properly insulated home should have R-19 in the walls (about 6" of fiberglass or cellulose, or 2-3" of foam), and about R-49 in all unfloored and floored attic spaces, slopes, and vaulted ceilings (which is about 16" of fiberglass or cellulose, or 7-8" of foam). Windows should be less than 6-8 years old; double or triple pane low-e with argon or better yet, krypton gas filled. Vinyl window frames with extruded foam in the frame cavities. All exterior doors should be steel with extruded foam interiors and all attic hatches need to have at least 2" off foam on the back.

95% of every home's attic I assess is insulated well below today's minimum building code. Here in Massachusetts I often see 6" or less of fiberglass but 16" (R-49) is currently required if building a new home.

"Nobody "likes" it at 50 degrees"

I assume you meant 60 as the OP mentions, and that is not true. I LIKE it at 60. In fact I rarely turn the heater on unless it's about 50 degrees outside. Even then just for a little bit of time to get it around 60 or so. Maybe 63...but not at night. Never at night. I sleep with the windows open and NO heat on. Ever. Sure I have lots of blankets on. I'm warm, but I like it when the room is cold. Really cold.

68 at night, or even during the day inside is too warm. For me. My wife complains some times (then we run the heater), but has learned that blankets and/or sweats work great.

I am NOT poor. Far from it. Nor am I the "cheap" millionaire next door type. I spend on plenty of stuff - including air conditioning when it's too hot outside.

Some people just like it cooler. We may be a small minority, but we do exist. We are not just cheap.

OP, follow my lead and jack the temp up to 72 after everyone goes to sleep.

Get better roommates. Or less poor ones.

I put the thermostat wherever I damn please and give zero Fs about the energy bills. Being uncomfortable is the worst.

Just set it at 65-68 and get in their faces if they change it. Assert yourself and get your way. Society is nothing but a battle of wills, OP; don't be a wuss.

Take a dump on his pillow

Thanks for sharing your expertise with us. I appreciate it as I know you have lot of hard earned knowledge (which I lack but love to learn a little about). Time to tweak my thermostat. Best to you.

[I feel a little like something is missing since I didn't insult you, though, after all this is Letsrun ;)]

Cold roommates wrote:

Should I start just turning it up to 68 without saying anything?

While 60 is freaking cold, don't do this. Had a roommate who liked it really hot once, so she would turn it up to 90 while I was asleep sometimes. I would wake up sweating like crazy. Total dick move. Just talk to your roommates.

hvacdude wrote:

It is a myth that you want to maintain a certain temperature while away to save energy. It is more about comfort. Do you want to come home to a 48 degree house and suffer for an hour or two while it comes up to a more comfortable temperature?

If the house was 48 degrees, then I'd get a nice hot fire going, snuggle up close to it and enjoy the heat. I certainly wouldn't want the heat on when I wasn't there.

If you agreed to pay the difference in energy cost, I'm sure your roommates wouldn't protest.

Have forcible intercourse with them while they sleep. That will shift the balance of power decidedly in your direction.

Wear a sweater, bro.

You do not live in a cold climate. This thread is about those who live in the northern sections of the US where November through March will have temperatures fluctuate from -10 to 35 degrees every day. In any house here in new england, if you "rarely turn the heater on" as you say, the temperate would plummet to 30 degrees within 12 hours.

Do you see people from florida piping up on this thread saying "I never turn on the heat! I love it at 60!" No, because obviously this thread is not about that climate. Temperate is relative. If you live in a climate where you do not HAVE to turn your heat on for MONTHS at a time, than this thread does not apply to you... at all.

After all, most people in very cold winter climates are just like you in the fall when it's 50-60 degrees outside. They won't turn the heat on. It's only until it falls below 50-55 where most turn it on (less the elderly and sick). You are not the minority, you just have to not be the subject of this conversation.

We're talking about 60 vs 68 degrees. Not 25 vs 50.

You said nobody likes 50 (which I take you meant 60 since that what the OP said). You did not say nobody likes 30. I like 60 (or even 50) vs 68.

I said I don't turn the heat on unless it's about 50 degrees or less. So, clearly, if it's 25, then I have the heat on...except at night. Durning the day, I don't keep it as 68. I keep it about 60. It does get in the 20's where I live at night. Never sub-0. For sub-0, then I'd turn on the heat even at night.

But not to 60 at night. Probably something like 45.

When it's 25 here at night I don't turn the heat on, and the windows are open, but just a crack, and yes it's freaking cold in the house when we get up. As soon as I get up, I close the windows and turn on the heat. Our house has great insulation. In about 30 minutes it's perfectly fine. Until that point I use good socks and a robe.

This thread is for ANYONE who cares to post about 60 vs 68. The OP did not say where he lived. You are not the arbitrator of who can and can not post on a thread, Mr. ekw. You have your opinion. I have mine.