With one of the first weeks of the year pushing 90 degrees most days, many people will probably be turning on the air conditioner for the first time if you haven't already. And every year, this often comes with a sometimes heated debate – what temperature should you set the thermostat at?

"If I get too hot, I pass out. And that's not good. I can't stand the heat. I can't stand long sleeves. I can't stand sweaters. I can't do it," said Wichita resident Melia Nicholson. 

"I prefer hot," added Foriz Khalimov. 

Nicholson says she's on the low-end extreme of the debate. 

"60 degrees," she said. 

Khalimov says he's on the opposite end. 

"It's like 75 tonight. Like 75, 77 is fine tonight," he said. 

While everyone has their own preferences, the question is, what should you set it at?

The answer, according to the government, even shocks people like Khalimov who like it hot. 

"82 is like, really hot for me," said Khalimov. 

You read that right. Energy Star, a program of the U.S. Department of Energy, says 78 during the day and 82 at night is the ideal sweet spot of savings versus comfort. 

And if you think that sounds bad, it also says you should bump it up to 85 degrees anytime you leave the house. 

One thing's for sure, the internet clearly agrees with Nicholson and Khalimov's reaction to this scorching recommendation. 

"Too hot. No. I keep my fan on. No, no, no. No way. I couldn't," said Nicholson. 

"If you don't sleep comfortably and you don't like, feel comfortable, you can't even work or anything else," said Khalimov. 

What temperature at home do you prefer during the summer months?
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A federal program is taking some serious heat for recommending that home air conditioners be kept at no less than 78 degrees during the spring and summer.

Energy Star, a program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, said people should set their thermostat to 78 degrees when they are home and "need cooling" in an effort to save energy during the hotter months.

And when you're sleeping or away, the suggested temperatures go up. When sleeping, it's recommended that the thermostat is kept at 82 degrees, and when away, people should set the thermostat to 85 degrees, Energy Star said.

The recommendations were met with a slew of objections online, mainly with people shocked over the implication that 78 degrees should be used for cooling.

The U.S. Department of Energy also recommended setting the thermostat to 78 degrees when home.