There is no single thermostat setting that is right for every person or every home. So there’s not one temperature setting that’s maximally energy- and cost-efficient for every home. The best temperature setting is the one that provides adequate cooling at costs the household can sustain. While a thermostat setting of 78 F (25.6 C) is often touted as a solution, in reality it is just one of several options. In my house, becoming a mother changed the amount I determined was necessary to spend on my summer cooling bills.