The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has removed a webpage advising Americans to maintain indoor temperatures between 75 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit during summer. This decision follows New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s recommendation for similar thermostat settings to lessen stress on the city’s power grid.
Details of the Now-Absent DOE Page
Previously, the DOE’s ‘Home Cooling Systems’ guidance suggested setting indoor temperatures to 75-78°F during the day for energy efficiency. The page, archived until late June or early July, emphasized starting with these temperatures as a broader energy-saving strategy. Newsweek reached out to the DOE for clarity on whether the removal was intentional, if the page has been moved, or if a review prompted this action.
Advice Offered by the Missing Page
The guidance, part of the DOE’s Energy Saver tips, aimed to reduce energy usage while ensuring home comfort in hot weather. Archive copies indicated recommendations to set thermostats ‘as high as comfortable’ during summer, increasing them further when homes are unoccupied. The DOE suggested: ‘A starting temperature between 75-78°F when at home during the day is advised.’ Other suggested measures included improved weatherization, utilization of window coverings, regular AC maintenance, and using programmable thermostats.
Timing of Removal Raises Concerns
The removal of the DOE page attracted attention as it coincided with Mamdani’s advice for New Yorkers to set their ACs at 78 degrees amid warnings of a major heatwave affecting several states.
New York: it’s hot out there. The grid works hard to cool us down. Set ACs to 78 degrees, turn off unnecessary lights/electronics, and unplug unused items. Our City maintains the 78-degree rule in buildings and reduces lighting during peak demands. A stable grid secures AC operations, potentially saving lives,’ stated Mamdani. ‘Let’s ease demand and endure the heat together.’
Conservative policymakers criticized Mamdani’s advice, pointing to socialism or communism. Senator Rand Paul tweeted that communism remains active. Senator Rick Scott called it ‘Communism at work,’ while Senator Lindsey Graham claimed ‘Socialist Democrats aim for your AC.’ Governor Ron DeSantis remarked: ‘Is this what was meant by the warmth of collectivism?’
Senator Ted Cruz replied to Mamdani, stating: ‘In a first-world country, you could turn on the A/C.’ However, similar recommendations have surfaced in Texas, such as in 2015 when Governor Greg Abbott requested Texans to set ACs at 78 degrees or more.
Extreme Heat Warnings Across 26 States
As thermostat controversies unfold, dangerous heat persists across the central and eastern U.S. The National Weather Service issued Extreme Heat Warnings for 26 states and Washington, D.C. Projected heat index values could reach 115 degrees, affecting cities like New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington with record temperatures, power outages, transit delays, and emergency heat reactions.
There is no evidence linking the DOE’s page removal to Mamdani’s suggestion, and the DOE has not clarified the page’s status. Nonetheless, archival material showed the government previously endorsed the temperature range Mamdani mentioned.
Unresolved queries include the reasons behind the removal, whether the DOE still backs the 75-78°F suggestion, and if new cooling advice is forthcoming.
Contact Newsweek editors for story inquiries: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang.