BookmarkAll About Programmable Thermostats
How to reduce your home-energy costs by 10 percent
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, programmable thermostats can reduce an annual home energy bill by as much as 10 percent. That's a lot of savings from just one change, which is one reason programmable thermostats have become the first choice for home temperature control.
Programmable thermostats allow you to reduce energy consumption during the workday when it's not needed, and still return home to a temperature as warm or cool as desired.
How programmable thermostats work
A typical programmable thermostat is really an electronic digital thermostat with a programming function that lets you preset the exact temperature for your house for every hour of every day. Some programmable thermostats feature 7-day programming, while others use a 5-day and 2-day format, or a 5-day, 1-day, 1-day format for extra weekend temperature control.
If you leave for work at 7 a.m. every day, you can set your programmable thermostat to reduce the temperature at that time. Then set the thermostat to bring the temperature back to a comfortable level thirty minutes or an hour before you get home, and you'll have acquired a full 8 hours or more of energy savings. Do the same when you go to bed, and you'll be able to acquire as much as sixteen hours of energy savings every single day.
For occasions when your home is too hot or cold, you can temporarily override your programmable thermostats settings. Just remember that increasing or decreasing the thermostat setting by 10 or 20 degrees won't make the house heat or cool faster. And remember: the more often you divert from the programmed temperature, the less you save.
How to shop for a programmable thermostat
If you're in the market for a programmable thermostat, you should look for these features:
back-up memory that will work during power outages
a digital or interactive display that is easy to read and use
temperature accuracy within 1 degree
warrantylength
ENERGY STAR products
Energy Star is a government-supported program aimed at protecting the environment through increased energy efficiency. Products that have earned an Energy Star rating have been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy as meeting their energy efficiency guidelines.
Programmable thermostat installation
Most programmable thermostats will cost between $50 and $200 or more. Do-it-yourself installation of your programmable thermostat can save you more money and is relatively easy if you have the right tools and follow the instructions.
One word of warning: if you're replacing a thermostat, and the old thermostat is wired into an electrical box, you should consult an electrician or have a professional installer set up your programmable thermostat for you. But if you're replacing a thermostat connected to wires coming directly out of the wall, you should be safe to work on your own.
Another word about disposing of your old thermostat: if your old thermostat contains mercury in a sealed tube, DO NOT just throw this into the trash. This is a potentially hazardous material and you should call your local waste management company to find out how to properly rid of the mercury tube.
More information on thermostats