When considering the purchase of a programmable thermostat, you should carefully consider what type of programmable to purchase, and then learn how to properly set it to maximize the energy savings potential. Here’s all you need to know about choosing and using a programmable thermostat.
Choosing a thermostat
Programmable thermostats are available in four primary types. Their programming capacity should match your scheduling needs. Here are your options:
- The 1-week model lets you program four daily settings, without any alterations. That means, you get one daily program for every day of the week. This type of model is ideal if your schedule rarely varies.
- The 5-2 model gives you a little more flexibility, with one daily program for the weekdays and one for the weekends.
- The 5-1-1 model goes a bit further, with one daily program for weekdays, one program for Saturdays and one program for Sundays.
- The 7-day model offers the most in terms of flexible scheduling. You can program a different daily setting every day of the week.
Using the device
Once you match the type of device to your scheduling needs, the next step in the process involves programming the device. Use these principles as a guide:
- Energy savings – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports that homeowners can net significant energy savings by setting their devices back in the winter or setting them forward in the summer, for at least one eight-hour period per day. You can increase savings by programming two eight-hour setbacks/set forwards each day, once at night and once during the day (if the home isn’t occupied).
- Temperature selection – The DOE also reports that the consistent use of a programmable thermostat leads to approximately 1 percent energy savings for every 1 degree you lower or raise (depending on the season) the home’s temperature for at least eight hours.
Using a programmable thermostat drives down energy costs. For more information about choosing or using one of these energy-saving devices, contact your local HVAC experts at Climate Control Company today. We’ve proudly served homeowners in Western Colorado since 1956.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Aspen, Vail and the surrounding Western slope communities in Colorado about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, please visit our website.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
