A huge portion of Palmdale's population makes the daily trek down the 14 freeway to Santa Clarita, the San Fernando Valley, or LA. That means your house sits empty for 10-12 hours a day.
This presents a huge opportunity to save money, but only if you manage your thermostat correctly.
The "Set It and Forget It" Trap
Leaving your AC at 74°F all day while you are at work is essentially throwing money away. You are paying to cool your furniture. However, turning it off completely is also a mistake. If your house heats up to 95°F by 4 PM, your AC will run non-stop until bedtime trying to recover.
The Ideal Commuter Schedule
We recommend a programmable or smart thermostat (like Nest or Ecobee) set to this schedule:
- 7:00 AM (Leave for work): Set to 82°F. This keeps the house from baking but doesn't waste energy.
- 4:30 PM (Pre-cool): Have the system drop to 76°F about 30 minutes before you typically get home.
- 10:00 PM (Sleep): Drop to 72°F-74°F for sleeping comfort.
Geofencing: The Game Changer
If your schedule is unpredictable (thanks, LA traffic), use the "Geofencing" feature on your smart thermostat. It uses your phone's GPS to know when you pass Acton or Santa Clarita, and automatically turns on the AC so the house is cool right as you pull into the driveway.
Related: See our general guide on thermostat settings.
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