Almost from the moment they hit the stores, programmable thermostats have been touted as huge money savers, allowing energy savings of as much as 10 to 30 percent on home heating a cooling costs. Many consumers, however, have not realized these savings, and some have even claimed their energy costs have risen with the installation of the device.
The idea of a programmable thermostat seems logical on its face. This is a devise the homeowner can program to automatically turn down the heat or air conditioning at night or when the user is not at home, thus generating an automatic energy savings. That this is not what is happening in many cases, research is showing, is not the fault of the device, but rather the way it is being used. In other words, it is not the car, but the driver.
To get the most out of a programmable thermostat, which can cost between $25 and $230 depending on features, there some basic rules to follow:
Temperature savings set-points should be calibrated for eight-hour increments and there should be a 10-degree difference between the normal use and the nighttime or away settings.
Allow temperatures to change gradually. Do not attempt a rapid warm up or cool down.
Try not to use the manual override too often.
If you have zoned heating and cooling, install one unit per zone.
Install the thermostat away from sources of heat and cooling to avoid false readings. This means keeping them away from doors and windows, fireplaces, heating equipment, and drafts.
If the thermostat runs on batteries, be sure to change them every year or when the unit indicates a battery change is needed.
Use the “vacation” feature whenever you will be gone for more than a day. This feature promotes energy savings by keeping the home at a safe and efficient temperature to protect electronics and plumbing, which may be well below the normal comfort level.
When used as recommended, programmable thermostats can result in significant energy savings for the average homeowner and be well worth the investment. Call to have your programmable thermostat installed today.
