NEW YORK — Half of Americans wait until summer to turn on the air conditioning, according to a survey of 2,000 Americans. The poll looked at the downsides of summer and found that on average, people think five hours a day outside in the summer is just enough, but 38 percent would opt for even less.
With the worst aspects of the season ranging from feeling sweaty (35%), to bugs (32%), and getting sunburnt (31%), 53 percent of all respondents agree that summer is best spent indoors.
Respondents also named some of their worst summer experiences, which included “feeling faint from the heat,” “getting a second-degree sunburn at the pool,” and “getting dressed up and sweating.”
The average person goes into four public places a week during the summer just to escape the heat, with two-thirds of respondents agreeing that one of the best summer feelings is stepping into an air-conditioned setting.
The perfect temperature for air conditioning
According to the survey, the perfect temperature to keep the AC running at during the summer months is a chilly 64 degrees! Another reason that 55 percent of people prefer staying inside during the summer is that planning an outdoor outing is more of a hassle compared to an indoor one.
This may be why 53 percent are actually looking for ways to have fun indoors this summer. Most respondents add they’re on the hunt for fun indoor activities to catch up with friends and family indoors this summer (59%), but wish there were more options (57%).
Conducted by OnePoll in partnership with Dave & Buster’s, the survey found that 45 percent think it’s hard to find an activity that everyone wants to do on hot summer days. However, half of respondents admit they feel bored of all the usual activities they do with their loved ones in the summertime (52%), backed by 58 percent who agree that it’s easy to get bored more easily during the summer than any other season.
Three-quarters of parents surveyed also shared it’s hard to keep their kids entertained since they’re at an age where they quickly get bored of doing one thing (74%).
“A majority of Americans are actually planning on making summer memories indoors and it’s easy to understand why,” says Brandon Coleman, Dave & Buster’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer, in a statement. “Cranking up the AC, and dining, drinking and playing games are top choices for enjoying the most of the summer months.”
Exploring the great INdoors
This summer, people are open to different indoor activities to spend time with their loved ones of all ages like catching up over yummy food (37%), going shopping (31%) or visiting an arcade (25%).
Three in five don’t mind making things interesting with a little friendly competition in their friend group (59%). The same percentage are also more likely to try out new foods or experiences during the summertime and agree that summer is the best time of year for indulgent foods.
“For a long time, the idea of a ‘summer in the great outdoors’ has reigned as king, and frankly, it’s time for a shakeup,” Coleman says. “Spending time indoors is far from boring with endless entertainment possibilities for people of all ages. It’s easy to see how some of the best summer memories are made inside!”
It looks like the survey was done somewhere around NY. I wouldn’t believe a word from New Yorkers
All I want to know is how much Chris Melore got paid by D&B. It’s so ridiculous it’s actually pretty funny.
Also….how much is D&B paying the “moderator”?
The best time to use my AC is in December! Out here in Imperial County, California, it can be super warm and we need to cool down.
In the Summer we leave for a three-month vacation to the beaches of Hawaii! We’ve learned!
That’s w
64?….really….64 BRRRRRking degrees?……..might as well live in a meat locker…..I set my A/C to;”Open the windows!!! It’s hot in here!!!”
That’s why the country has rolling black outs because of idiots that write crap like this. What idiots.
I know I sleep better when the bedroom is in the 60s, but in the summer here in central California, that ain’t happening (right now as I type this, it’s 6 pm and 103 outside). My compromise is to set it for 80 and have multiple fans to keep the air moving
I dont know what yall are talking about but I always have mine set to 62 degrees and it barely keeps my room cold. I also have a very nice A.C and my room gets extremely hot in the summer. Its the hottest room in the house so maybe that is the problem.
You either have a poorly sealed house, bad AC, or too high of expectations of how AC should be working. I used to live with guys who set the AC at 60-62 and I was wearing winter coats to stay warm. If you are in a hot area most houses will struggle to reach or maintain 62 degrees so your AC will run constantly and your bill will skyrocket.
You must follow Gov. Newsom’s orders, or else. 78 and higher. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/08/17/as-west-coast-faces-historic-heat-wave-energy-shortages-governor-newsom-signs-heat-emergency-proclamation-to-free-up-energy-capacity/
72° in the summer and 68° In the winter was always good for us…
64? Absurd!
must be a typo, most HVAC can’t maintain that and will be running continuously. 72-78 is the range. Southern states may be higher just for the economics of it
“The contents of this website do not constitute advice and are provided for informational purposes only.” // Makes zero sense as a disclaimer. You wouldn’t post the survey if you didn’t at least partially agree with it. So, you’re either not too bright or you’re fishing for lots of hits from a flabbergasted public. I’m thinking it’s a bit of both. 75 is the proper setting in summer unless you have money to burn, enjoy listening to the AC all day long, or are doing your part to contribute to brown-outs.
I won’t be back.
This is perfect for your electric bill to crush you.
After working all day in 95 degree heat, 75 degrees indoors fills pretty good.
Sorry
I live in SC
Everyone I know sets the A/C in mid 70s.
Besides it would be impossible to cool the house that much with an ambient temperature in the 90s.
In case you’re new, “StudyFinds” publishes anything that calls itself a study. It doesn’t mean it’s actual correct data and conclusions based on science by scientists. This website publishes click-bait trash barely disguised as science. Just read a few articles, and you’ll see it.
HVAC professional here people don’t realize that AC systems are designed with a 10°difference to outside temp.85°outside means 75° inside. At 64° or world is going to hell in a hand basket. That’s what causes rolling blackouts especially with these new electric cars sucking on the power grid. Still burning fuel to make the electric for your car. Oh and don’t forget to put a big generator in your trunk Incase you need to burn gas to fill your ELECTRIC car. That’s my rant I’m done now.
So bogus, AC’s can’t cool more than 20° lower than outdoor temp.
Right!
Unfortunately we have a population that is predominantly obese and uninterested in physical activity.
AC Company Owner Here:
Unit are NOT sized to do 64 ° in houses! LOL….
WTF, 64 degrees! Are you nuts? Did you actually mean 74 degrees? I have never heard anyone recommend setting an AC unit that low.
Irresponsible and inaccurate article promoting alternative reality designed to brainwash ignorant people.
In CA due to the shortage of electricity during the summer, A/C is required to be set at 78 and above. Read the orders of the Governor, https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/08/17/as-west-coast-faces-historic-heat-wave-energy-shortages-governor-newsom-signs-heat-emergency-proclamation-to-free-up-energy-capacity/
Sixty four degrees? I sincerely doubt it. I live in Florida, and setting the A/C to 77 or 78 degrees barely works. Even at that, the A/C runs full blast.
If I set my A/C to 64 degrees, I would have to also set up a GOFUNDME page for my air conditioner!
In other news, poll respondents agreed that 90 degrees is the best thermostat setting when the weather gets chilly, with more than half reporting that they regularly light living room furniture on fire to keep the house toasty.
My roommates used to set the AC at 61 degrees. Electric bill was $400 that month and I froze my ass off. Most people prefer temps in range of 68-72. Personally I think 70 is the sweet spot year round, but a lot of systems and houses vary.
Nobody I know sets the thermostat at 64. No air conditioner will pull a hot house down to 64 degrees and maintain it on a 95 degree day. 75 degrees year round is perfect.
Why so cold? Temperature will never be such as you turn your window AC. The most clearance is 20F for in and out temperatures in regular conditions. So people prefer the coldest mode just to get as lowest as possible temperature in the room.
A tropical island recommendation is indoor temperature is 78 degrees to adjust for indoor and outdoor temperatures. During cooler months heating systems can be set to 72 degrees or lower. Please adjust your indoor humidity accordingly and change your filters.
My family is usually happy with the AC cooling to 74, but for me, even 73 F is where I start sweating. 75 F it becomes hard to think, and at 78 or 80, my thinking grinds to a halt. I’ve always been sensitive to heat, even when I was a skinny kid.
We’re considering putting in a mini split to cool just my room without having to run the main AC, but even with that, the coolest I’ll set my room to is 70. Anything lower than that is just senseless and expensive! 64, wtf?
Is the survey exclusive to electric company CEOs?
My physical therapists gym is at 72 degrees. This is UPMC health system. The biggest non profit, non taxed racket in the world. I am sweating my butt off in a mask. Lower the dang temp.
This entire article and poll are garbage, misinformation. The average homeowner knows nothing’s about HVACR. Your poll failed too take into account very basic principles… Such as heat load, climate, insulation level of the house, windows… Etc. I live in Virginia where our summer times consist of 90-100 degree days with RH ranging from 45-85%. Maintaining 64 degrees with a RH of 40-50% , is 1. going to cost you a shit ton of money ( regardless of heat load, and home insulation level), and 2. Likely to cause your heatpump/condenser to run near constantly. Preventing it from cycling off and on (not short cycling) during somewhat controlled intervals like the systems are designed too. In the residential HVACR Industry a return temperature less than 70 degrees is what’s known as “low heat load”. 99% of residential systems are not designed/optimized for low heat load operation. This leads to the evaporater coil (not always but likely) having too much liquid in it. Too much liquid , not enough heat energy moving over said heat exchanger, preventing all the liquid refrig. From boiling off into what’s known as “superheated vapor”. Whatca end up doing is sending a mix of super heated vapor and liquid refrigerant back to the compressor. Compressors don’t “compress” liquid, instead that liquid slugs the compressor and will destroy the compressor over time regardless of compressor type (scroll, reciprocating). Not only are you sending liquid back to the compressor, there’s a good chance that while ur units been running for the last 4 hours straight your condenser fan motor and compressor are feeling the “heat”. Very rarely do I see run capacitors that maintain proper capacitance while under load for that length of time , causing the “phasing” of said motors to be sync. Not to mention the dramatic decrease in power factor ratio of said motors. When the compressor has been running for that long while getting slugged , you better hope she got an internal overload or some safety mechanism in place. To prevent those hermetically sealed windings from shorting to ground, or better yet an ” open line” across windings.
So how does Commerical HVACR equipment maintain below freezing or even sub zero temperature you may be asking but the systems in your home can’t. The simple answer is because of the way they’re engineered, and more in depth answer is that these systems are designed specially for what’s known as low ambient Cooling. And that is achieved through a variety of means , such as different compressor , different style metering devices, variable frequency device controlled fan motors & VFD compressors with multiple PCB(primary circuit boards, which contain chip sets and are basically computers without a monitor.) They also use different refrigerants with completely different temperature glides, and in alot of cases “chilled water” will be used in place of refrigerant in the condensing cycle. On top of that residential duct systems are typically filled with air leaks and not designed with proper static pressure in mind or even thought about ????????
Moral of the story… Residential HVACR systems have their limitations . Your system isn’t designed to maintain an indoor temp of 64 with appropriate relative humidity. But hey keep your t-stat set that low, and don’t change that air filter, cuz at the end of the day shit like this is what keeps us busy.