Saving money appeals to everyone. But you may ask, “how can I save money on my energy bill without sweating or freezing?” Our suggestion is to upgrade to a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats help you maintain indoor temperatures appropriate to your home’s daily schedule and your personal preferences.
According to Energy Star, approximately half of a home’s energy is used for heating and cooling. Imagine your savings if you lowered your energy usage each month. Trading in your traditional thermostat with a programmable thermostat will allow you to do just that.
Programmable thermostats allow you to stop wasting energy when you’re away at work or sleeping. If you turned your regular thermostat down in the winter, you would be faced with the cold when you tossed the covers off in the morning. Or, if you turned it up in the summer, you could come home from work to a warm, stuffy house and you’d have to wait for the AC to cool your house down. A programmable thermostat provides the best of both worlds allowing you to stay comfortable and save money!
Does Adjusting the Thermostat Make a Difference?
The answer is YES! For every degree you adjust your thermostat, you use up to 3% less energy. Reducing your heat by 5 degrees while sleeping, you could use up to 15% less energy. If you use 15% less energy each month, you should see a decrease in your monthly energy bill and all you did was eliminate energy you never needed.
The Key is Consistency and the Perfect Schedule
Lowering your energy usage during times when it is being wasted is key to saving money, However, you don’t want your thermostat in constant flux as that will waste more energy in the long run. Consistency is key to getting the most from a programmable thermostat.
Look at your daily habits and schedules to find large blocks of time where you can dramatically lower your energy usage. Then set the thermostat to change during those same times each day. The two most obvious times are while you are working and while you are sleeping. There may be others such as a planned vacation or a business trip that has you away for a couple days.
When you are at home, the general rule of thumb is to set it and forget it. Changing your thermostat during this time will only force your unit to work harder, which will cost you more money in the long run. So, don’t change your settings for short time frames like a trip to the movies or dinner with friends.
Don’t Forget About Energy Saving Temperatures
You want to be comfortable in your home, but when possible don’t set the temperature too high or too low. Consider setting your thermostat to a cool, but comfortable 68 degrees in the winter and lowering it while you sleep. You can follow the same strategy during the summer. Keep your home warmer when you are away and set the thermostat as high as possible for your comfort level when you are home and need cool air. This will ensure that humidity is controlled in the heat of the summer.
Remember to give the thermostat roughly an hour to return to your comfortable temperatures before you wake up or return home from work. By using a programmable thermostat, you will avoid any discomfort by returning temperatures to normal before you wake or return home.
Your energy bill is probably the bill that is in constant flux which makes monthly budgets difficult. A programmable thermostat is the best tool to control your energy usage. This will keep your monthly bills lower and more consistent. They are easy to use and effective. Trust us, once you take the time to learn how to use your new programmable thermostat, you’ll be glad you switched.
For more information on programmable thermostats, or for AC repair, maintenance or replacements, don’t hesitate to contact us at 252-355-9191.