Iowa has been pretty lucky in November when it comes to the outside temperatures. In my opinion, this middle portion of fall has been pretty warm. The sad reality is that eventually these temperatures will drop and it will begin to get pretty cold.

We might have a warmer winter than normal but at some point, your furnace will have to regulate your home's temperature, all day and all night.

It's time for that age-old question...What is the 'best' temperature to keep your house at this winter? You could ask this question to 10 different people and get 10 different answers. My wife would prefer we keep the temperature around 72 and I prefer something closer to 67. Anything above 70, I feel hot. Anything below 70, she feels cold. So we compromise and leave it at 70 degrees.

What's The Best Temperature?

When it comes to comfort, in my opinion, the best is whatever you're the most comfortable in...Duh. When it comes to efficiency and saving money, that is a whole different ball game.

Energy says you can save up as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by "turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day from its normal setting."

To save the most energy and money when the temperatures start to drop in Iowa, you'll want to keep your home temperature somewhere between 68 and 70 degrees when you're awake. While you're asleep or away from home, you'll want to lower it by 4 or 5 degrees. If you're comfortable keeping it lower than that during the day, congratulations because you are already saving a little bit of energy and money.

The lower you have your interior temperature, the slower your home loses heat. The longer your house can remain at that lower temperature, the more energy/money you'll save.

Energy does report that the savings are greater for houses/buildings in milder climates than those in more severe climates. In Iowa, we can see temperatures below 0 degrees for weeks at a time. You'll obviously notice a drop in savings if we experience weeks like this, this winter. The location of your thermostat can also play a factor in the performance and efficiency of your heater.

According to Energy, "to operate properly, a thermostat must be on an interior wall away from direct sunlight, drafts, doorways, skylights, and windows. It should be located in an area with natural air currents." I'm not sure why you would want to block your thermostat with furniture but make sure you don't place furniture in front of or below your thermostat.

What Do You Think?

What temperature do you prefer to keep your home at during the winter? Are you perfectly fine with spending a few extra bucks to keep your house at a warm and toasty 72 degrees or are you throwing on a sweater, grabbing your wool socks, finding a blanket, and keeping your home below 67? Is there really a 'best' when it comes to the temperature in your home?