Programmable thermostats

A programmable thermostat is a very effective way to save energy without daily effort. The programmable thermostat allows you to use a pre-set schedule for heating and cooling based on your personal habits and needs. You can change temperatures to a more energy-efficient level while you are asleep or away from home and then return temperatures to normal before you wake or return home. Programmable thermostats can store and repeat six or more temperature settings a day and you can manually override them without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program. Most have a “vacation” or “hold” button that can be set to hold a constant, more efficient temperature while you are away from home. Simple, inexpensive models can be very useful in managing your energy use with a few simple settings, while the more complex systems can learn your habits and fine-tune your energy savings. 

You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting. In winter, when the temperature inside your house drops below its normal temperature, it will lose energy to the surrounding environment more slowly.  A lower temperature inside your house means slower heat loss to the outside. The longer your house remains at a lower temperature, the more energy you save. In summer, a higher interior temperature will slow the flow of heat into your house, saving energy on air conditioning.  

A thermostat must be located on an interior wall away from direct sunlight, drafts, doorways, skylights, and windows. Do not put furniture in front of a thermostat because it will prevent the thermostat from correctly reacting to the temperature of the house. The manual for your thermostat will provide information on optimizing the location and settings. 

Homes or buildings with heat pumps, electric resistance heat, steam heat, and radiant floor heating may require special thermostats or programming, so you will need to do additional research before buying a new thermostat for these types of systems.