Ever wished your home would be waiting for you, toasty warm on a cold, winter night? Now you can with a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats function on a clock timer that you can set for your heater or air conditioner during specific times.
Installing a programmable thermostat is an easy and inexpensive alternative to manually setting your thermostat each time you want heat or AC. Programmable thermostats can cost between $40 and $150, depending on the setting options, with a payback period of about a year when programmed correctly and used consistently.
Another simple solution to reducing energy use in your home is to turn down your thermostat a few degrees, especially in rooms that aren’t being used. Turning the thermostat down at night can also cut your daily energy use. You can conserve power in your household for when you need heat or AC in the rooms you use most, keeping your home at the perfect temperature and your monthly energy bills low.
Take Action / Next Steps
Ready to lower your thermostat and save some energy? Sign up for the goal on ecomii Action and track your progress.
To learn more about how to purchase the right programmable thermostat for your home, visit the Energy Star website
Did you know that setting your thermostat 10°F cooler for eight hours at night can cut about 7% of your heating
cost?
Lowering your thermostat while you sleep at night is a simple way to
save money on your energy bill. In general, each degree that you lower your thermostat can save about 2% on energy use and
cost.
SOURCES : 1. Amann, Jennifer Thorne, Alex Wilson and Katie Ackerly. Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, 9th Ed, p. 96. Canada: New Society Publishers, 2007.
