The Independent, on Climate, 23 October 2026

The Independent runs a short service piece telling readers to set thermostats to 20C and quoting a US Department of Energy saving of up to 10 percent. Its central instruction, to turn the thermostat back by "7 to 10 degrees", carries no unit even though the piece converts every other temperature between Celsius and Fahrenheit, so a UK reader cannot tell what cut is being recommended. The headline's promise to "slash heating bills" also goes further than the up-to-10-percent figure the body supplies.

6.0

Serious

out of 10

What we found

  1. Uses figures that mislead

    Serious

    “lowering the thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day can cut annual heating costs by up to 10 percent”

    What the words do
    The Independent gives the key number in the article, the size of the temperature cut, with no unit attached, while sourcing it to the US Department of Energy.
    What a reader comes away believing
    A UK reader, served Celsius first throughout the piece, takes this as a reduction of 7 to 10 degrees Celsius, a drop from 20C to as low as 10C.
    What is actually the case
    The piece converts every other temperature in both directions, giving 20C (68F) and 21C to 25.5C (70F to 78F), so it shows it knows the two scales differ, yet leaves this figure bare. The word Fahrenheit never appears alongside it, and a 7 to 10 degree Celsius cut is nearly twice a 7 to 10 degree Fahrenheit cut.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“between 21°C and 25.5°C (70°F to 78°F)”
    • Elsewhere in the article“setting home thermostats to 20°C (68°F)”

    Show it in the article

    Written straight

    The US Department of Energy says turning the thermostat back by 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (about 4 to 6 degrees Celsius) for eight hours a day can cut annual heating costs by up to 10 percent.

  2. Headline goes beyond the article

    Minor

    “slash heating bills”

    What the words do
    The headline promises a large cut in bills from one thermostat setting.
    What a reader comes away believing
    That setting the thermostat as advised will sharply reduce what they pay to heat their home.
    What is actually the case
    The body supports only a saving of up to 10 percent of heating costs, and only for a household that lowers the setting for eight hours a day, a figure attributed to the US Department of Energy.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“can cut annual heating costs by up to 10 percent”

    Show it in the article

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Experts reveal the ideal thermostat temperature to keep your home warm and

Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in Experts reveal the ideal thermostat temperature to keep your home warm and slash heating bills Julia Musto in New York Friday 23 October 2026 08:25 BST Bookmark popover Removed from bookmarks Close popover People can save as much as 10 percent on heating a year by turning the thermostat back 7-10 degrees for eight hours ( Getty/iStock ) HVAC experts recommend setting home thermostats to 20°C (68°F) in autumn to stay comfortable without overworking heating systems. According to the US Department of Energy , . Lowering indoor temperatures overnight or while away from home helps prevent unnecessary energy consumption and can improve sleep quality. Recommended settings vary by climate, with warmer regions needing higher baseline settings of between 21°C and 25.5°C (70°F to 78°F). Alternative methods to stay warm without turning up the heat include wearing extra layers, sealing drafty windows and doors, and using hot water bottles. In full What to keep your thermostat at this fall as temperatures drop

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