You shouldn’t be forced to sacrifice comfort or drain your wallet to keep your residence at a refreshing temp during muggy weather.

But what is the best temperature, exactly? We review recommendations from energy experts so you can find the best temp for your residence.

Here’s what we suggest for the most energy-efficient setting for air conditioning in Tucson and Phoenix.

Recommended Thermostat Settings for Summer

Most households find using the thermostat at 72-73 degrees is ideal. However, if there’s a huge difference between your interior and outdoor temps, your cooling costs will be higher.

This is our advice based on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

While at home: 78 degrees. While that appears hot, there are ways you can keep your residence cool without having the air conditioner running all the time.

Keeping windows and window treatments down during the day keeps chilled air where it needs to be—indoors. Some window treatments, like honeycomb shades or plantation shutters, are made to provide added insulation and improved energy conservation.

If you have ceiling fans in your house, the DOE says you can increase thermostat settings about 4 degrees warmer without compromising comfort. That’s since they freshen with a windchill effect. As they cool people, not spaces, turn them off when you leave a room.

If 78 degrees still seems too hot at first glance, try doing a trial for about a week. Get started by increasing your setting to 78 degrees while you’re at your residence. Then, steadily turn it down while using the ideas above. You might be astonished at how cool you feel at a warmer temperature setting.

While away: 88 degrees. There’s no reason to keep the AC working all day while your house is unoccupied. Switching the setting 7–10 degrees higher can save you anywhere from 5–15% on your AC expenses, according to the DOE.

When you arrive home, don’t be tempted to set your thermostat under 78 to cool your house more quickly. This isn’t effective and usually leads to a bigger electricity bill.

A programmable thermostat is a good way to keep your settings under control, but you need to set programs. If you don’t use programs, y