This winter comes with news that, after uncertain years, many homes are grateful for: the price of gas, which set records in previous seasons, has been moderated. The megawatt hour has gone from €50–55 last winter to around €30, a relief that invites you to breathe although it does not solve the question that comes back to the table every year: at what temperature should you set the heating to avoid skyrocketing the bill without being cold?
The answer seems obvious, but it is not. Thermal comfort depends on the thermostat, yes, but also on insulation, usage habits, the health of those who live in the house and the available technology. That is why experts agree that it is not about heating more, but rather heating better.
The rank that decides everything. There is technical, institutional and scientific consensus: between 19 and 21ºC is the optimal temperature for the home during the day. According to the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE)recommends between 20-21ºC with appropriate clothing. Aessia, the Aragonese installers association consulted by Heraldoset the range to 19-21ºC and remember to place the thermostat in a representative area, away from windows, radiators and drafts.
While energy companies match In that reference, the who and a study published by Lancet Planetary Health consider 18ºC as the healthy minimum to avoid respiratory and cardiovascular risks.
And the eternal question: turn off or leave it at a minimum? Before answering it, it must be made clear that each additional degree above 21ºC represents an increase of 7% in the bill, according to IDAE. If that is the case, the recommendation is to turn off the heating when you are not at home and also at night.
According to the institute, what is efficient is to adapt the ignition to the actual occupancy schedule. While we sleep, the body needs less heat and the feeling of comfort decreases. Therefore, 15–17 ºC is sufficient at night. Only in very poorly insulated homes could the system be left on at minimum, but even there it is usually more efficient to turn it off and on for a few minutes when you get up than to keep it running all night.
Beyond the thermostat. A key piece that confirms this idea comes from scientific research. a study published in Nature Scientific Reports analyzed twelve homes equipped with sensors and reached a compelling conclusion: adjusting schedules and temperatures based on actual occupancy can reduce heating consumption by up to 38% and up to 14% of the home’s total energy expenditure.
The researchers showed that turning off the system at night and during the hours of the day when the home is empty not only does not reduce comfort, but is one of the most efficient scenarios. Furthermore, they detected that even in identical homes, consumption varies enormously depending on the user’s habits: time spent at home, habits, income level or whether the home is owned or rented. The conclusion coincides with the IDAE: Efficiency does not depend only on temperature, but on how we manage that temperature.
The problem is not the thermostat, it is the house. Many households believe that “the heater doesn’t heat up enough,” when in reality the home does not retain heat. AFELMA, the association of insulation manufacturers, He warned us in Xataka that poor insulation is responsible for a huge part of winter energy consumption. Old windows, uninsulated walls, thermal bridges and poorly designed shutter boxes are responsible for leaks that cost money.
The technical data confirms it, a well-insulated home can reduce heating costs by between 20% and 30%. according to an IDAE document. In other words, two houses at 20ºC can feel very different. While one is comfortable, the other forces you to raise the thermostat three degrees more to obtain the same sensation. And the pocket notices it.
The immediate future: insulation and ventilation. Spanish regulations already require that new homes or comprehensive renovations incorporate mechanical ventilation that renews the air without losing heat. In passive houses—the most efficient that exist—thanks to the combination of continuous insulation, airtightness and heat recovery, many are naturally maintained at 20–21 ºC without turning on the heating, as the architect Lourdes Treviño explained in Interior Magazine. It’s not magic: it’s a reduction of up to 90% in energy demand.
The cheapest grade is that it does not leak. After reviewing official organizations, experts, scientific studies and real experiences, the answer is unequivocal: the ideal daytime temperature is between 19 and 21 ºC. At night, between 15 and 17 ºC. And the most efficient thing is to turn off the heating when no one is home.
But the real savings are not only in the thermostat: it is in the insulation, intelligent use and preventing heat from escaping. This winter will be kinder financially. And yet, the great lesson remains: heating is not about raising degrees, but about preserving them.
Image | freepik
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings