Save Up to $200 a Year with a Programmable Thermostat
The average American household spends about $2,000 annually on heating and cooling costs. Would you like to keep some of that money in your pocket instead? We have two words for you – programmable thermostat. The crew here at Herrmann Services has installed many for our customers and they really like the convenience and savings.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 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. Let’s do the math – 10% of $2,000 is about $200 in savings every year. That’s worth looking into!
Programmable Thermostats – Set It and Forget It
What makes programmable thermostats so wonderful is that they are so easy to use. All you do is adjust the times you turn on the heating or air-conditioning according to a pre-set schedule. Once it’s set, you can forget about it and it will continue to heat and cool your home to the temperatures you specified at the times you pre-programmed. Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple daily settings (six or more temperature settings a day). But what if you want to change that schedule? No problem, you can manually override what is programmed without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program.
Thermostat Settings for the Highest Savings
You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68°F during daytime hours and setting it lower while you’re asleep or away from home. In the summer, you can follow the same strategy with your air conditioner. Keep your house warmer than normal when you are away, and then set the thermostat to 78°F only when you are at home and need cooling. Set your thermostat at as high a temperature as comfortably possible and ensure humidity control if needed. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
Tips for Setting Your Programmable Thermostat
- Turn the temperature up or down 20 to 30 minutes before you leave home each day.
- Have the temperature resume to your comfort level 20 to 30 minutes before you come home each day.
- Reduce the heating or cooling 1 hour before bedtime at night.
- Increase heating or cooling about 30 minutes before you wake up in the morning.