Well since it's cool out I tend to keep the heat lamp on, but in the Summer I would not likely need it. I'm just frightened because of the RI he had, so that's why I keep the temps in the high 80s to 90F. Once the temps start rising outside I will stop using the heat lamp and adjust his enclosure to where it needs to be. My house gets pretty warm in the Summer, most likely from the low to mid 80s.