It’s almost summer. Tempers and temperatures are gonna be getting higher. All it takes is one little report on saving money with regulated air conditioner use and everyone loses their mind.
A reporter named Jennifer Titus shared what should have been a simple public interest story on cutting costs and she became public enemy number one on Twitter. (Don’t we have fried chicken sandwiches to scream at each other about? Leave this woman alone!)
How cool do you keep your house?
New report our shows these as the recommended temps for energy efficiency:
• 78° F when you’re home
• 85° F when you’re at work or away
• 82° F when you’re sleeping pic.twitter.com/iNOSaqX35c— Jennifer Titus (@jenntitus10) August 19, 2019
The recommendations are:
78° F when you’re home
85° F when you’re at work or away
82° F when you’re sleeping
The data Titus is quoting comes from Consumer Reports, not her own personal preferences. Electricity bills get much higher in summer as we all hide in our homes trying to stay cool in front of the A/C. The temperatures they recommended were for central air, and they’re getting their info from Energy Star, a joint federal program run by the DOE and the EPA. These are temperatures that are supposed to keep your bills low, as well as your body temp.
Again, keep in mind that this is a compromise temperature—one that is bearable, yet cheap. It’s not meant to be comfortable, necessarily. It’s also not mandatory! But people reacted like Titus was setting fire to their house.
Our a/c units don't have thermostats (common in nyc buildings). So I'm sticking with "high", plus a fan.
— Lisa (@politeracy) August 19, 2019
I read this in Ron Swanson’s voice. pic.twitter.com/WaLfHNLddC
— Beach Chair Investor (@BeachChairCap) August 20, 2019
Plus all ceiling fans fully operational.
— JWF (@JammieWF) August 19, 2019
You’re supposed to keepthe temp at 68-72 for a sleeping baby. Is this report trying to kill babies or something? Jeesh, Jennifer
— Cass Anderson (@casspa) August 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/PetiteNicoco/status/1163533657392472066
Might even be a little over cooked
— Jessica O’Donnell (@heckyessica) August 19, 2019
Right? Who’s sleeping when it’s 82 degrees?? No one. No one is sleeping.
— Mrs. Magoo (@ThisGroovyMama) August 19, 2019
5 billion. jesus this is awful.
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) August 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/DianaTremaine82/status/1163538073453563906
For someone who was basically called both a baby and dog killer, Titus had a sense of humor about the Internet dust-up. She shared the actual report and a video of herself messing with the thermostat.
So that conversation was fun. Let’s have another one tomorrow. Quite frankly, not sure what all the fuss is about. pic.twitter.com/1g8PkzC6kO
— Jennifer Titus (@jenntitus10) August 20, 2019
She also shared a piece of insane hate mail she received over her tweet, reminding everyone she didn’t write the report, actually:
Good morning!
Glad you guys enjoyed the report.
Not my report for the record.
Y’all have had such a nice civil conversation and have even reached out through my work email. Thanks! #benice #goodmotto pic.twitter.com/GRiPO3af6w— Jennifer Titus (@jenntitus10) August 20, 2019
And even if she did, she’s not actually going to come into your house while you’re sleeping and touch your thermostat. Relax, everybody. You’re too hot to handle.
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