June 2007

Set Your Thermostat to Savings

 

Did you know that for each degree Fahrenheit you adjust your thermostat, you could save up to three percent on your energy bills? Setting your thermostat to save money doesn’t have to be uncomfortable—just conservative. And with a programmable thermostat, it doesn’t have to be difficult, either.

Programmable thermostats come with the ability to program temperature settings based on your schedule for maximum energy savings. These settings are based on time and are usually divided into four time periods: mornings (when you wake up and are getting ready), daytime (when you are away at work), evenings (after work, but before bed) and night (while you are sleeping).

Programmable thermostats allow you to temporarily change the temperature without changing the settings. For instance, if you have company over and the extra bodies make the house feel stuffy, you can go ahead and bump the temperature down a little—on most systems, it will override the program for about two hours. But if you make a habit out of overriding the settings, you will use more energy, thus canceling the benefit of a programmable thermostat.

Hold features on most programmable thermostats allow you to maintain one consistent temperature for an extended period. Don’t use this feature for day-to-day use, but use it for extended absences, such as vacations or long weekends away.

Programmable thermostats are available in several models, so choose the one that best fits your schedule. Seven-day models allow different schedules for each day of the week. Five plus two-day models use one schedule for weekdays and another for weekends; five plus one plus one models use one schedule for weekdays, one for Saturday and another for Sunday.

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, you can get the same results with a little more work and a little less convenience. Just be sure to change the temperature at each interval for maximum energy savings.

If you install a new thermostat, place it on an interior wall away from vents, heat sources, exhause fans, attic pull-downs and sunlight. Always follow manufacturers’ instructions when installing thermostats and discarding old ones. If you have a heat pump system, be sure you use a programmable thermostat that is made for a heat pump. This type of thermostat should be installed by a licensed contractor.

Are you an apartment dweller? There are several factors you can’t control when it comes to energy efficiency and your energy bills, like insulation or the efficiency of the unit. However, the temperature is one thing you can control, and being conservative on temperature can save you big bucks on your energy bills.

Try it out and see the difference. Just by adjusting your thermostat 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day, you can save about five to 15 percent a year on heating and cooling bills.

 

Just Where Should I Set My Thermostat?

WEEKDAY

• Mornings and evenings: 78 degrees in the summer; 68 degrees in the winter. Try going just a few degrees higher in summer or lower in winter for even more savings. If you do so gradually, you will probably become accustomed to it in little time.
• Daytime: 85 degrees in the summer, 55 degrees in the winter.
• Nighttime: As high as is comfortable in the summer; as low as is comfortable in the winter. Most people sleep best in cooler temperatures.

WEEKEND

• Look at your weekend schedule to determine how you should set your thermostat. Do you spend a lot of time outdoors or away from home on weekends? You can probably set it as if you are away. Like to spend the weekend lounging indoors? You’ll probably be more comfortable if you set it more moderately, even though it will cost a little more.

VACATION

• This is when you should use the hold function on your programmable thermostat. In summer, set the thermostat to maintain a temperature of 85 – 90 degrees, or cut the unit off completely. In winter, turn the temperature as low as it will go, but keep it above freezing (most units won’t go that low). This will keep your pipes from freezing. Ensuring you have adequate insulation will also keep this from happening and will help to hold a more moderate temperature in your home year-round.

 

 

 

 

Read other articles from The Walton EMC Gasette:

	True or False: Test Your CO Knowledge
	Gas Up the Stove This month's recipe features Summer Squash Pancakes

 

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