Setting the Thermostat

Setting the thermostat correctly is critical to achieving comfort and minimising energy use. Setting the Temperature one degree cooler than needed in the summer will cause a surprisingly large increase in energy use. Similarly setting the Temperature one degree warmer than needed in the winter will also cause a surprisingly large increase in energy use. Normally it is best to set the temperature at 22 degrees. For most air conditioners this would give a temperature of around 24 degrees for most of the summer and 20 degrees for most of the winter. However in practice there are a number of factors that may require a different setting. For example if in winter you get cold air next to the windows sinking down and pooling at floor level, it may be necessary to set the thermostat at a higher temperature.
Often thermostats are not very accurate; this is not really a problem if you can find a single setting that achieves comfort all year round. Sometimes though, it is necessary to occasionally tweak the setting.
To find the ideal thermostat setting,

1. Choose a day that is warm or cool, but not an extremely hot or cold day.
2. Ensure the air conditioner has been running for at least one hour.
3. Initially set the thermostat to 22 degrees.
4. Wait for a period of time (at least 10-15 minutes) to see how the air conditioner behaves
5. If this hasn't achieved comfort, set the thermostat slightly higher (or lower as seems appropriate). Don't adjust it by more than a degree at a time or you will end up overcorrecting and take longer to find the best setting.