 One of the best ways to help combat global warming is a very easy one that most of us can do with a thermostat. You can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours, such as when you leave for work. You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat.
Using a programmable thermostat, you can adjust the times you turn on the heating or air-conditioning according to a pre-set schedule. As a result, you don't operate the equipment as much when you are not home or asleep. Many come with several options such as day, evening, and night schedules. Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple daily settings (six or more temperature settings a day) that you can manually override without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program. When shopping for a programmable thermostat, be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR® http://www.energystar.gov label. This certifies that the thermostat has been proven to save energy more than the average system.
Energy is easily saved in the wintertime by setting the thermostat to 68°F while you're awake and setting it lower while you're asleep or away from home. By turning your thermostat back 10°–15° for 8 hours, you can save about 5%–15% a year on your heating bill—a savings of as much as 1% for each degree if the setback period is eight hours long. The percentage of savings from setback is greater for buildings in milder climates than for those in more severe climates, but very well worth it in every region.
In the summer, you can follow the same strategy with air conditioning. It works by allowing your house to be warmer when you are away, and lowering the thermostat setting to 72°F only when you are at home and need cooling. Although thermostats can be adjusted manually, programmable thermostats will avoid any discomfort by returning temperatures to normal right before you wake up or return home.
Most programmable thermostats are either digital, electromechanical, or a combination of the two. Digital thermostats offer the most features in terms of multiple setback settings, overrides, and adjustments for daylight savings time, but may be difficult for some people to program. Electromechanical systems often involve pegs or sliding bars and are relatively simple to program for anyone. The costs can vary greatly. If you are diligent in your quest to conserve energy, manually adjusting the thermostat might be the answer. If you want to automate the process you can be sure about the savings and will recoup any additional costs.
Energy is an easy thing to conserve when we are more conscious about our living habits. Thermostats are a good way to become integrated into the eco-friendly lifestyle.
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