How Programmable Thermostats Help You Save Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) tells us that homeowners could save up to 15 percent annually on heating and cooling costs by setting household thermostats back about 15 degrees for eight hours daily. The big problem with actually getting these savings: remembering to set the thermostat when you leave the house or go to bed! A programmable thermostat is your solution. It makes the DOE’s estimated savings almost automatic for busy Houston area homeowners. Once you’ve installed and correctly programmed the thermostat to fit your schedule, you won’t have to worry about changing thermostat settings all the time.

How Programmable Thermostats Work

Programmable thermostats can handle some pretty complicated scheduling. Even those individuals and families with a complex pattern of comings and goings should be able to find a model that works for them.

Some programmable thermostats can store six or more temperature settings and time segments per day. If your schedule changes here and there — if you take the day off from work or school, for example — there’s no complicated reprogramming needed on most models. You can easily override the usual settings without losing them and then switch back to the normal schedule when ready.

Suggested Settings to Save Energy

Try setting the thermostat to 68 degrees during times when you’re at home and awake in wintertime. That means you would set the thermostat to go down to 58 during the hours you normally sleep. During hot weather, try a setting of 78 degrees during at-home hours and 88 degrees otherwise.

For the greatest savings, try setting back the thermostat by 15 degrees rather than 10. In the summer, ceiling fans may make the process easier. Don’t worry, you won’t be giving up comfort in exchange for energy savings. Your programmable thermostat will bring your house to the desired comfortable temperatures by the time you wake up or return home. 

To learn more about saving energy without sacrificing comfort, contact the experts at Davis Air Conditioning & Heating.

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