A programmable thermostat can make your HVAC system more efficient by effortlessly adjusting the temperature (even just a few degrees) to conform to your lifestyle — so that your system isn’t running when you’re not at home. Greater efficiency means greater savings for you.
According to Energy Star, you’ll save one percent on your utility bill for every one degree you lower the temperature for eight hours when heating your house. You’ll realize even more savings — about 3 percent for every degree you set the thermostat above 75 degrees Fahrenheit — when cooling your home.
Here are 3 Ways to Maximize Your Savings
- During the winter, set your thermostat to 68°F while you’re awake, and set it lower when you’re away or asleep.
- During the summer, set your thermostat to 78°F while you’re home and turn it off when you’re away. You can save even more by turning it up to 80°F and using ceiling fans, which will make your home feel cooler.
- Avoid using the override feature to change programmed settings. You’ll save the most money and keep your home heated or cooled evenly when you allow the settings to remain in place for eight hours or more.
A programmable thermostat makes managing temperature adjustments easy, with pre-programmed setting options for waking, daytime while you’re away, evening, and night/sleep. Some even have settings that adjust for weekends, when you are home more during the day. Keep in mind, however, that energy savings are based on lower temperatures (higher in summer) throughout the day. For example, if you lower the temperature while you are at work, but then raise it significantly when you come home (above the recommended 68°F) you could end up spending more on energy costs.
The bottom line is common sense: Whether you use a programmable thermostat or not, if you turn down the heat (or turn off the air conditioning) when you don’t need it, and don’t turn it above or below the recommended temperature settings when you do need it, you’ll save money.
Additional Savings Tips
Once you’ve programmed your thermostat, try these other tips to save even more:
- Keep doors closed as much as possible to reduce the loss of heated or cooled air.
- Weatherproof leaky windows and doors to prevent air from escaping.
- Replace the air filters in your heating and cooling units every 30 to 60 days for maximum efficiency
- Make sure your home has sufficient insulation, particularly in the attic. (This can save you another 30 percent on your heating and cooling costs.)
- Heat and cool individual rooms instead of the entire house. If you tend to spend a lot of time in just one or two rooms, you can save a lot of money by using a space heater, ceiling fans (in the winter, reverse your ceiling fans to allow hot air to be forced downward to help you save even more on heating), or use a room-sized air conditioner.
Indoor Air Quality helps homeowners in Highlands Ranch and the Denver Metro Area save money on energy costs. Call us today to learn more.
