Programmable thermostats are a terrific energy saving tool, but you can maximize your savings by using the device properly. Programmable thermostats save energy by automatically changing the temperature setting inside your home to an energy efficient setting at pre-programmed times throughout the day. When these times are programmed to coincide with the period you are at work or asleep, you will reduce your energy usage and can save about $180 per year without sacrificing comfort.
The EPA’s $180 per year savings figure is based on programming your thermostat to 8 degrees lower in the winter for 10 hours during the day and 8 hours at night and increasing the temperature in the summer 7 degrees for 10 hours during the day and by 4 degrees for 8 hours at night.
To achieve greater savings try setting the energy saving temperatures even lower in the winter and higher in the summer. The greater the difference from your comfort setting the more you will save on energy costs. You can also try reducing your winter comfort setting and increasing you summer comfort setting a degree or two. Keep making adjustments until you find the energy saving and comfort settings that you are comfortable with and then leave the thermostat alone.
Avoid the temptation to override the programmed energy saving or comfort settings. This habit will reduce your energy savings. You are better off finding a good temperature program you are comfortable with than frequently overriding the energy saving or comfort temperature settings. Programmable thermostats work best if you set the program and then forget about it and let it do its thing.
For additional ways to save energy on your heating and cooling, talk to your HVAC contractor about an HVAC system efficiency analysis. They will analyze your HVAC system and recommend an energy efficiency package that will help your reduce your heating and cooling energy usage and cut your energy bills.
