Setback Thermostat

Programmable Thermostats Can Save Energy and Money

If you can program your TV to record your favorite shows, why can’t you program your thermostat to set different temperatures at different times of day in your home?

Well, the good news is that you can, because that’s exactly what a programmable thermostat does. Also known as setback thermostats, these devices allow you to regulate the temperature of your home according to need, thereby reducing your overall energy consumption and maximizing your energy efficiency.

Some benefits of installing a programmable thermostat:

Save nearly 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by programming your thermostat back 10°–15° F for 8 hours

Maintain optimal home comfort levels by setting your thermostat to heat or cool your house before you or your family get home

Go to sleep in a comfortable, cooler environment but wake to a warm house!

A little known fact is that the lower you set your interior temperature, the slower is the heat loss. Therefore, the longer you maintain a lower indoor temperature setting, the more energy you save. By the same token, a higher indoor temperature in summer actually slows down the flow of heat into your home, resulting in savings on your air conditioning bill.

Save energy in winter by programming your temperature at 68° F – set it lower when asleep or away to maximize savings

Save energy in summer by programming your temperature at 78° F – set it higher when away to maximize savings.

If you decide to invest in a programmable thermostat, take into account your daily pattern of life when programming your temperature settings. For example, if you prefer cooler temperatures when sleeping, program your thermostat to start cooling the house before you go to bed, because otherwise you won’t really notice the effect. Make sure you adjust for everyone’s schedules; if you know the house will be empty at certain times of the day, program your thermostat accordingly to take advantage of the situation.

You can choose from two types of programmable thermostats: digital and electromechanical. While digital models offer more features such as daylight savings settings and multiple setback options, they can be a bit more complicated to use. On the other hand, electromechanical ones that work with pegs or sliding bars are quite simple to program but offer limited options. It all depends upon your specific needs and requirements

Why choose a programmable thermostat?

This is a great video on why and how to choose an Auto Setback Thermostat.

http://www.energynow.com/video/2011/05/31/home-energy-efficiency-tips-programmable-thermostats