If you are determined about saving energy, but find it difficult to remain consistent when heating and cooling your home, installing a programmable thermostat is a worthwhile, worry-free investment to help you achieve energy savings.
Thermostat features
Programmable thermostats come in a few different models, as far as programming goes. You’ll typically find programmable thermostats that can be programmed by the following:
- 7-day model, which allows a different program for each day of the week,
- 5-2 model, which allows one set program for the weekdays and one set program for the weekend,
- 5-1-1 model, which is the same as the 5-2, except that Saturday and Sunday can be individually programmed.
Another programming feature is the number of temperature changes allowed in a single day (or block of days for 5-2 and 5-1-1 models). It’s best to choose a thermostat that allows four temperature settings per day.
Energy-saving practice(s)
If you’re not accustomed to saving energy by lowering the temperature during the heating months, or raising the temperature during the cooling months, it may be a good idea to ease into this habit. For example, if you keep the thermostat at about 76 during the heating months, try lowering it one degree every few days until you reach 68. During the cooling months, if you typically have a cool temperature setting of 68, try raising it one degree every few days til you reach 76. Then, get started with successful thermostat programming.
Getting the most energy savings
Remember, you save about 4 percent in heating and cooling costs for every one-degree adjustment. So, if you set back your thermostat 8 degrees (like the example) for 12 hours (while at work) in a 24-hour period, you’ll save 16 percent heating and cooling costs. Here’s another example for a 4-temperature per day schedule:
Heating months
Overnight, 62
Morning, 64
Work, 56
Evening, 68
Cooling months
Overnight, 80
Morning, 78
Work, 84
Evening, 76
Programmable thermostats are proven energy-savers that can help your family save money. Call Climate Control Company. We’ve been helping residents of Western Colorado with home comfort for more than 50 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, please visit our website.
Climate Control Company services Aspen, Vail and the surrounding Western slope communities in Colorado.
