Get the Most Out of Your Thermostat
Snapshot | Savings | How to buy | How to Use | Take action!
Snapshot
Amazing that such a small device can play a huge role in your in your heating and cooling bills. Think of thermostats as your money dial between you and your utility. You set the desired temperature, and the thermostat signals the furnace or air conditioner to operate until it is achieved.
Programmable thermostats save energy by allowing you to easily set back the desired temperature at night or when you are away. It's worthwhile to upgrade immediately from a manual thermostat to a programmable one.
Many high-quality thermostats are affordable. Look for one with a display and features you can use easily.
Think carefully about the settings you choose: These determine your savings.
Savings
A programmable thermostat can help you reduce heating costs by automating the daily task of turning down the temperature at night and when you are away and then turning it back up. No more having to remember to do it.
Similarly with your summer air conditioning, a programmable thermostat can help you regularly set the night and away temperatures a bit higher.
How much you’ll save by using a programmable thermostat depends on how you use it; typically homeowners save 3% to 5% total on their heating and cooling costs. A new thermostat will pay back within 1 year for most homes.
How to buy
When buying a thermostat, the first consideration is its technical compatibility with your heating and cooling equipment. Here’s a quick rundown:
• Forced-air furnace: Lots of choices, no technical considerations.
• Electric baseboard heat: Read the packaging to make sure the thermostat is compatible. Only a few manufacturers make thermostats for this type of heating.
• Radiant floors: Get a unit that is recommended and installed by your heating contractor. Correctly placed temperature sensors in the slab are key to reliable temperature readings and savings.
• Heat pumps: Check with your heating contactor, as programmable thermostats have not been generally recommended for heat pumps. However, new, more sophisticated units might work for you.
Look for the 7-day feature. Many programmable thermostats can hold a separate schedule for each day of the week. While this might seem like too much detail, using different weekday and weekend settings is a great way to save.
Look for 4+ temperature settings per day. If you are out at regular times during the day, you’ll want a thermostat that can adapt. Look for one that has 4 or more programmable periods during each day: early morning; mid-day at home; mid-day away; evening; and night.
And very importantly, look for a unit that seems easy to use. Too often programming the thermostat seems so complicated that it doesn’t get done. With an easy-to-use thermostat, you’ll be in charge of you home’s comfort and energy savings.
Installing a thermostat is intimidating for many homeowners, because it requires connections to low-voltage lines. Call Ennovationz for a connection, or call your favorite handyman.
How to use
Tips for using your thermostat for maximum energy savings:
• Those few degrees at night add up to savings. Turn down the temperature at night in the winter and turn it up at night in the summer. This is a big savings opportunity. For example, in the winter, your daytime temperature can be set to 68°F and your night-time temperature can be set to 62°F. In the summer, your daytime temperature can be set to 75°F and your night time temperature to 78°F.
• Don’t heat and cool an empty house. Don’t worry about maintaining a temperature while you are gone; you can set the thermostat to start just before you come home. (If you have pets, this tip might not apply to you.)
• Don’t try to hurry the heat by setting the temperature really high. Your furnace can’t work any faster. Use the thermostat’s settings to anticipate your heating needs.
• Shave off a few degrees. You can outsmart the thermostat. Suppose you set your desired temperature to 68°F. Your thermostat will keep the furnace going until it reaches a few degrees above that setting, then let the indoor temperature fall to a few degrees below the setting, and then turn the furnace on again. So, trim 2 degrees off your desired temperature. This prevents the overshooting.
• Try out the energy savings settings, then observe your thermostat behavior. Often, when we program the thermostat, we use settings we're sure will be comfortable. To save energy, try lowering the settings a few degrees and note how many times you turn up the temperature manually. You might find you are comfortable with the new settings on most days. You’ll save energy on these days and maintain your comfort on the days you use the override.
Take action!
Install and set a programmable thermostat
Raise thermostat settings in summer
Lower thermostat settings in winter
