As summer starts to wind down in the Atlanta area, we get a little relief from the heat. There may be a few days or weeks when we even switch off the air conditioning before we start thinking about turning on the heat. A programmable thermostat is one way to get your home off the temperature roller coaster and onto a path toward greater energy and cost efficiency. When you install and correctly set a thermostat that you can tailor to your daily, or even weekly schedule, you can shave about $180 off your annual heating and cooling bills, according to ENERGY STAR. Here are a few things to consider when making the decision to upgrade to a programmable thermostat.
Evolution of the Programmable Thermostat
When they were first introduced, programmable thermostats had a bit of a bad reputation for being too complicated to program. After considerable criticism, the federal ENERGY STAR program - a joint initiative between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy - asked its partner manufacturers to simplify the interfaces on programmable thermostats. Since 2012, they have become much more user friendly, which allows consumers to set the thermostats more accurately. This, in turn, saves considerable energy, and money, and lessens the environmental impact of inefficient heating and cooling.
Types of Thermostats
These days, programmable thermostats can range from simple digital devices that change temperatures on a schedule to home automation systems that let you run everything from lights to air conditioning via an app on your smartphone. For a relatively simple upgrade from your old analog unit, however, there a few basic programmable models that ENERGY STAR suggests. These include the following models:
- 7-day thermostats: If you have a different schedule every day, these types of thermostats offer the greatest flexibility. They allow you to set a different program for each day of the week, varying your temperature selections for when you are home and when you are typically not.
- 5+2-day thermostats: This style of programmable thermostat maintains the same temperature schedule during the workweek but changes it up for the weekend, when people tend to spend more time at home.
- 5-1-1 thermostats: If you keep a regular workweek schedule but your weekends are less predictable, this type of thermostat may be suited for you. It allows you to set a standard workweek schedule and different schedules for each day of the weekend.
According to the Department of Energy, you can cut about 1 percent from your energy bill for every degree you change your thermostat's setting - either up in summer or down in winter - so your energy savings will largely depend on your comfort level. Remember, however, that a thermostat with incorrect settings can actually end up wasting energy and costing you more in utility expenses in the long run. Professional advice can go a long way toward making sure your programmable thermostat is working efficiently. Call a heating and cooling pro, like those at Reliable, to talk about the right programmable thermostat and the best way to program it for your home.
Image source: Freeimages