When used correctly, programmable thermostats are touted as saving the homeowner 10-30% on their heating and cooling bills. ... Some studies show that programmable thermostats actually save between 6.2 and 6.8% while a Florida study showed that people who had programmable thermostats used an average of 12% more energy.
But as it turns out, the only real pro to keeping your thermostat one temperature is convenience. Sure, when you're away on vacation or gone for the weekend, the consistent temperature is efficient, but when you're at home, there's really no additional benefits.
You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting. ... You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68°F while you're awake and setting it lower while you're asleep or away from home.
Your system uses more energy turning on and off than it does just running. A broken or faulty thermostat can force your system to constantly turn on and off. This makes the system function at less than peak levels and will cost you more in your monthly energy bills.
If the thermostat has a lot of additional features — though they may be convenient to have — it may use additional energy. If you are trying to save money on your energy bills, a simple programmable thermostat may be a better fit. ... If used correctly, a programmable thermostat may save you money on your energy bills.
Several factors come into play when choosing a thermostat: how much flexibility you want in the programming, your voltage requirement, and the type of heating and cooling system you have. You must also decide on a user interface. Yet another consideration is what style of mounting system suits your installation.
At night and when you are away, it is recommended to just turn your thermostat down 7-10 degrees lower than what you would typically have the heat set at. By doing this, the U.S. Department of Energy states you can save as much as 10% a year on heating.
Set your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter
So why is 68 degrees the magic number? The energy saving key is lowering the temperature (about 10-12 degrees Fahrenheit or 6-8 degrees Celsius) at night or when you're away.
Turning your heat on and off is not cost effective, since your system will have to work extra hard for extra long to get the temperature back up.
According to experts at the Energy Saving Trust, the idea it's cheaper to leave the heating on low all day is a myth. ... The Energy Saving Trust says if you're keeping the heating on all day you're losing energy all day, so it's better to heat your home only when you need it.
What Temperature Should You Set Your Thermostat to in the Winter? For winter, the ideal thermostat temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home. ... Lowering your thermostat 10-15 degrees for eight hours can reduce your heating bill by 5-15%.
To stay comfortable and save money this summer, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78F (26C) when you are home. Setting your air conditioner to this level will allow you to stay cool and avoid an unusually high electricity bill.
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