What is the ideal temperature depending on the season of the year?

It may be extremely hot outside or there may have been a severe snowfall, but the temperature inside needs to be pleasant, healthy and efficiently achieved. But what is the ideal temperature? The fact is, there is no single ideal temperature because a number of factors need to be taken into account, including:

• The season of the year: Each season involves different conditions that influence the optimum temperature level for comfort and efficiency. It is not the same to turn on the air conditioning on a hot spring day as it is in the middle of August.
• The climate zone: The geographical location of the house, the bioclimatic characteristics, the surrounding area of the house, etc. These external factors have great significance when deciding on the ideal temperature.
• The characteristics of the house: How it is distributed, the orientation, what it is made of, the insulation systems and the type of air-conditioning installed. Everything that goes to make up the house plays a key role.
• The people who live in the house: The number of people, their health, their age, their way of life, etc. In short, the characteristics of the people living there.
• The type of room: A room where all we do is sleep is not the same as a living room where we spend most of our active time.

Taking all these factors into account and grouping the seasons into two large blocks (spring-summer and autumn-winter) enables you to decide on the most appropriate temperature range for the main areas of the house.

The ideal temperature for the home in spring and summer

It is usually during these two seasons when temperatures are the highest in Spain. Based on this, the Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE in Spanish) advises that in these seasons a temperature of between 25 and 26 degrees Celsius inside the house is the best solution to protect us from the suffocating heat without wasting energy.

They also recommend that the difference in temperature between inside and outside the house should not be more than 12 degrees in order to avoid a thermal shock and catching what is known as a summer cold.

And although they recommend that the temperature should vary between these two levels, the temperature does not need to stay the same in all rooms in the house:

Living room

As this is the room where most of the people living in the house spend much of the day, the temperature that the IDAE recommends should be maintained is between 25 and 26 degrees. You should remember that not everybody feels the heat in the same way, so if you keep a stable temperature you will avoid arguments about who is in charge of the air conditioning remote control.

Bedroom

This is the room where we spend a continuous stretch of time, from the time we go to sleep until the time we wake up. And it is usually during the night. So the temperature should be kept at 25 degrees, always taking the temperature outside as a reference, since the difference of 12 degrees should not be exceeded. Keeping a constant temperature will help you rest, without forgetting that you need to adapt the bedclothes and what you are wearing to the temperature in order to be comfortable. No more wrapping yourself up in an eiderdown because the air conditioning is really strong.

With regard to a children's bedroom, it is recommended to increase the temperature by a couple of degrees for the well-being of babies who are much more sensitive to cold and sudden changes in temperature.

The kitchen

The kitchen is a room where people do relatively little, but just by using appliances like the ceramic hob, the oven or the microwave, this will cause the temperature to increase significantly. That is why it is advisable to adjust the temperature to 25 degrees. This is the room where you may wish to be cooler.

Bathroom

Unlike the kitchen, the bathroom should be the room where the temperature is highest. This is where you cool yourself down with cold water, so if the temperature is low it can cause discomfort.

The ideal temperature for the home in autumn and winter

In general, this is the season of the year when the daytime temperature should be kept at between 21ºC and 23ºC, according to the IDAE. At night, the thermometer can be set at between 17ºC and 18ºC.

Living room

When you are in the living room, the temperature should be in accordance with what the IDAE recommends in this regard. Nevertheless, when there is nobody there or at night, the comfortable optimal range will be between 17ºC and 18ºC. You should also remember that you can wrap yourself up in a blanket and watch a film without having to keep the temperature very high.

Bedroom

The optimum temperature for a bedroom is 18ºC, which enables you to rest without wasting energy. Again, if it is a children's bedroom, it is recommended to increase the temperature a couple of degrees to avoid colds.

The kitchen

It is recommended to keep the temperature in the kitchen between 21ºC and 23ºC. But always remember, as we saw above, as this is where heat is generated by electrical domestic appliances, you will not need to increase the temperature very much. You should also bear in mind that a lot of foodstuffs are very susceptible to sudden changes in temperature.

Bathroom

Finally, the recommended temperature for the bathroom is 23ºC. But just like in the summer, this is where there can be health problems if the temperature too high because if you take a hot shower or bath, the temperature may be triggered by the steam.

The temperature in public areas and workspaces

We spend much of the day at work. To reduce gas consumption and improve energy efficiency, the Ministry of Ecological Transition has established an ideal maximum temperature for public buildings in general, including commercial establishments, department stores and shopping centres, cultural spaces, stations and airports, as well as workspaces. If the heating needs to be switched on, the thermometer should be set at a maximum temperature of 19ºC, and in the case of air conditioning, it should not exceed 27ºC.

Tips on how to maintain the ideal temperature by consuming less energy

There are tools you can use to overcome both heat and cold, without having to consume a lot of energy and avoiding last-minute surprises on your bill. This is why we recommend adopting some habits that are easy to follow so the temperature of your home is always optimal, even if the air-conditioning or boiler breaks down.

• The Sun is your ally: Firstly, it helps you to stay warm when outdoor temperatures fall, whilst natural daylight helps you save on electricity consumption and the benefits of sunlight on health have been clearly shown. So try and get the maximum enjoyment out of the sun's rays in your home. You can even use them to generate electricity by installing solar panels, which will save on your electricity bill.
• Insulate so as to maintain a suitable temperature: This can be done by using the right fabrics in curtains as well as placing insulation strips around the windows. There are so many little things you can do to help you maintain the ideal temperature in your home whatever the season.
• Dress suitably: Dressing in accordance with the season will make you more comfortable with the temperature and you will avoid unnecessary expenses to cool or heat your home unnecessarily. So making sure the temperature is comfortable will prevent you from having to wear a jacket in the summer or having to wear short sleeves at home in the winter.
• If you are not at home, you don't need the air-conditioning: Adjust the thermostat if you are not at home, since you will not need your home to be at the ideal temperature if you are not there to enjoy it. You can maintain a certain temperature, which does not consume electricity unnecessarily when you adjust to the ideal temperature on returning home. If you are not going to be at home for a long period, remember to turn off all your air conditioners.