Programmable thermostats are nifty, as they can give you savings on your energy
bill with the push of a few buttons. They can automatically adjust the temperature while
you're at work and asleep to save energy, and have the house comfortable again by the time
you get home—downright Jetsonian.
It's a big deal that
programmable thermostat can lower energy costs because
heating and cooling account for about half of home energy use. Turning the temperature
down in cold weather and up in warm weather can save energy—you can
save 3 to 5 percent
on home heating for
every degree you lower the temperature below 68 in the winter.
Why not have a teeny machine do it for you? (One less thing to forget.)
Some programmable thermostats are crazy-smart about maximizing energy savings. They
can monitor usage patterns to determine the best time to turn the system on in order to
reach the desired temperature while minimizing energy use.
1. Choose the programmable thermostat that's right for you. Some deliver one heating
schedule for weekdays and one for weekends. A 7-day programmable thermostat
can have a different schedule for each day of the week (more on this below).
2. Install your thermostat, and make sure to follow its installation instructions.
3. Set your thermostat according to your schedule.
There are three different types of programmable thermostats:
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5+2-day models can accommodate one schedule for weekdays and one for weekends.
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5-1-1 models can do three temperature schedules, one for weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
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7-day programmable thermostats could heat and cool your home at different times every day of the week.
Tips for Proper Programming to Save Energy and Money
(Written by Lisa Farino, Energy Star)
Unlike other energy-efficient appliances, a programmable thermostat doesn't save you money just because you install it; you need to program it and use it properly. Here are some easy tips to follow:
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Take the time to set it. Energy Star programmable thermostats come with different temperature settings for four different times of the day: wake, away, evening, and night/sleep.
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Keep the default temperatures if you can. Programmable thermostats' pre-programmed settings are typically comfortable temperatures that maximize energy efficiency, though you may need to adjust them. If you do change default settings, raise the temperature setting by 7 degrees when you're away and 4 degrees when you're asleep in the cooling months. During the heating months, lower the setting by 8 degrees when you're away or asleep.
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Use energy-savings temperatures for at least eight hours. Good examples of this are during the day when no one is at home and after bedtime.
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Choose your times accurately. Many thermostats begin cooling at the programmed time and reach set-point temperatures sometime thereafter. If you want your house to be cool by the time you wake up or come home, program your thermostat to start before you actually want the house cool. Units with adaptive or intelligent recovery features are an exception—they allow your house to reach the desired temperature by the set time; no need to program them to start up in advance.
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Get out the manual. Manuals have all the information you need to properly set and maintain your programmable thermostat for optimal energy savings. If the manual is not available, visit the manufacturer's website.
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Ask the experts. When a contractor comes by for your annual pre-season check-up, find out how to optimize your programmable thermostat for maximum savings and comfort. You can also visit ENERGYSTAR.gov or call 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-762-7937) for help.
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Make changes during vacations and schedule variations. For schedule variations, the “temporary” setting lets you temporarily make an area warmer or cooler without erasing pre-programmed settings. (The pre-programmed temperature automatically kicks in when the next program period begins.) The “hold/permanent/vacation” setting overrides any pre-set programming indefinitely without erasing it, so you can switch back to your pre-set program anytime.
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Use the “Vacation/Hold” setting while you’re away. Set the “Vacation/Hold” feature when you’re leaving for the weekend or on vacation. Most programmable thermostats have a pre-programmed “Vacation/Hold” setting of 85 degrees, which is an excellent energy-saving target for most households.
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Use the “temporary” setting only when absolutely necessary. Unless you have an atypical change in schedule (home with a sick child, staying up late to complete a project), resist the urge to override your pre-programmed settings. This common mistake results in higher energy bills.
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Don’t crank your thermostat to extreme settings. Raising or lowering your thermostat to extreme temperatures (say, 90 in the winter, 40 in the summer) won’t heat or cool your home faster; it just makes your boiler or furnace and air conditioner work harder.
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Change the batteries. Change batteries annually to maintain your settings. Some programmable thermostats indicate when batteries must be changed.