By Carly Sauvageau and Caden Perry, USA TODAY NETWORK / Reno Gazette Journal
As highs drop, Northern Nevadans may be wondering what the best thermostat setting is for fall and winter.
Keeping your home warm and comfortable is ideal, but so is keeping your energy bill down during the colder months.
NVEnergy, the World Health Organization, and the United States Department of Energy all recommend a thermostat setting for winter.
When should you turn your heat on in Nevada?
Properly heating a home is a game of days, not hours. Repeatedly changing the dial often leads to higher energy bills because your heat constantly adjusts to changing conditions.
Most heating experts say when your home gets at or below 64 degrees for three to seven days, it’s time to kick on the heat.
Keeping a home cooler than 64 degrees for a long period can harm your immune system and create an environment where viruses thrive, according to the World Health Organization.
The average temperature in Reno, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), was 58.4 degrees from September to November from 2019 to 2025. NOAA said the average temperature for Reno during the same years, December-February, was 41.6 degrees.
Reno could see a three-day series of highs below 64 degrees by the end of the week, but as of Wednesday morning, it’s unclear whether that cool trend will last long enough to make turning on your heat worth the cost.
Is there an ideal temperature for my thermostat?
There isn’t one magic number to set your heat to once the cold arrives in Nevada. There’s a healthy range of anything between 64 and 78 degrees, and there’s the comfortable ranges from 68 to 72 degrees, depending on who you ask.
If you want close to a specific number, here’s what several experts and energy companies recommend:
- US Department of Energy: 68-70 degrees
- World Health Organization: 64-75 degrees, but not below 68 for sensitive populations
- NV Energy: 68 while you’re at home, between 55-68 degrees while you’re away
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
