Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat for Convenient Energy Savings

If you want to gain the energy savings available by adjusting your thermostat, you can do so manually. You can turn the thermostat down when you leave the house and back up when you return home. Adjusting the thermostat a few degrees each evening for when you are sleeping can also add to your energy savings. 

There are two problems with the manual scenario. First, when you return home there will be an adjustment period of time while the temperature adjusts to the new setting; the same will be true in the morning. In the winter months, you’ll be getting up to a cold house and waiting for it to warm up while you get ready for the day. The second problem with the manual scenario is the fact that it is so easy to forget to change the setting in a rush to leave for work or school, or before going to bed. 

A programmable thermostat solves both problems. Once you have the thermostat set for your regular work or school schedule, it will automatically adjust the temperature settings each day according to your programming. You can even have separate settings for weekdays versus the weekend. You can also program in separate settings for nighttime sleeping versus daytime temperatures. 

Upgrading your current thermostat to a programmable thermostat makes energy saving simple and convenient. Your HVAC contractor can recommend a programmable thermostat and quickly install the thermostat in place of your old thermostat. The cost of replacing the thermostat can be recovered in a short of amount time by the savings in energy costs.

Cost Effective Ways To Reduce Your Heating and Cooling Costs

Replacing your old heating and cooling system with a modern energy efficient furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump is a great way to reduce your heating  and cooling costs, but if you are not yet ready to spend that much on a new system, there are many lower cost improvements that can help you reduce your energy usage while you save up for that new furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner.  Most of these improvements will carry over to the new system when you have it installed in a few years.

Installing a programmable thermostat that lowers the temperature setting in the winter and raises it in the summer when your family is not at home or is asleep can provide big savings. Having your ducts sealed can also lower your energy bills.  The EPA estimates that about 20% of the heated or cooled air flowing through ducts is lost due to leakage.

Ceiling fans are also a great way to reduce your energy costs.  In the summer, the fan is set to blow air downward.  The light breeze makes temperatures seem cooler so you can keep the temperature a few degrees warmer.  In the winter, the fan direction is reversed to move warm air from the ceiling down to the living space an keeping the room warmer.

Weather stripping and stopping air leaks from around doors, windows, vents, wires, air conditioner drain pipes, and other openings can reduce loss of conditioned air and eliminate drafts.

Finally, having your system serviced regularly and changing your air filters every month or two will help you system operate at its peak efficiency and reduce breakdowns.