Save Money with a Programable Thermostat

Turning down your thermostat by just a few degrees in the winter can save 5-10% on your overall heating bill.

The best way to achieve this is through the use of a programmable thermostat and its setback feature.

You can program your thermostat to set the temperature back until the next pre-programmed time when you want normal temperatures. Programming temperatures around 62°F on cold winter nights, when you’re sleeping under blankets can help you save as much as 15% on your heating costs.

You can program your thermostat to “setback” temperatures when your family is work, at school, or on vacation. In summer, setbacks work much the same way for central air conditioning.

Most of these thermostats come with two setbacks, a week day and a week end program.
The setback feature is important because if you’re anything like me you’ll forget to turn your thermostat down all the time. Even if you are already pretty good at remembering, these devices can frequently enable you to set back or turn up the thermostat a few extra degrees, without your assistance.

Here’s an example of my house program:

5:30 AM heat turns up to 66 degrees.

8:00 AM heat turns down to 64 degrees [most days kids are in school]

11:00 AM heat resets to 64 degrees. This is built in to reset anyone raising temperatures.

3:00 PM heat turns up to 66 degrees.

6:00 PM heat turns up to 68 degrees.

11:00 PM heat turns down to 62 degrees.

~ a concord carpenter