Did you know the average household spends more than $1,900.00 a year in energy costs nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. A programmable thermostat used properly can keep you comfortable while having your useless energy prevent greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming and save around $180.00 a year in energy costs.
Hi, I am Wendy Reed and on behalf of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Program I am going to show you how a programmable thermostat is one of the best ways you can save energy. The key is knowing how to pick the right one for your home and to use it properly.
So first, let us head to the store and check out our options.
If you have ever shopped for a programmable thermostat in the past, you know that there are many options to choose from. How do you know which one is best for you?
Think about your family schedule and how often you are away from home. This will help you decide between three types of programmable thermostats, a 7-day model, a 5+2-day, and a 5-1-1 day model.
Each model has its own benefits depending on your family schedule. The 7-day model gives you the most flexibility with settings for each day of the week, whereas the 5-1-1 and 5+2 day models allow the program different week day and weekend settings. And be sure to look for one that is with the EPA’s ENERGY STAR label.
Every energy star qualified programmable thermostat comes with four pre-program settings that make sure your home is comfortable at the right time.
Many models also feature touch pad programming and backlit displays as well as indicators to let you know when it is time to change your system’s filter or if your system is malfunctioning.
Once you got your thermostat home, make sure to install it on an interior wall away from dense and any other source of heat or drowse.
Okay so, your thermostat is installed. Now, it is time to put it to use. This is the part that many homeowners find the most daunting but it can be simple, let me show you how.
Before you program your thermostat consider when your family wakes up, leaves the house and goes to bed. You can set your thermostat according to your family schedule to automatically adjust the temperature at each of these times.
Here are few setting recommendations from the EPA. In the winter, set the temperature to drop by eight degrees when you are away and when you are sleeping. In the summer, set the temperature to go up by seven degrees when you are away and four degrees when you are sleeping. You can also ask your HVAC contractor how to optimize your settings during your next pre-season check up.
Once you have programmed your settings resist the urge to override your thermostat or placed it permanently on hold at a constant temperature. Remember, during the temperature way up or down will not help heat or cool your home any faster but it will make your system work overtime and can wreak havoc on your energy bills.
There are times when you should adjust your settings like when going out of town. Use the hold or vacation button to help you save even more when you are away for a long period of time.
If you are having trouble programming your thermostat, do not give up just get out your manual. It has all the info you need to program and maintain your optimum settings. If you do not find the manual, give the manufacture a call or check out their website.
Another thing to remember is your thermostat may run on batteries. Change the battery once a year. Some models even come with indicators that let you know when it is time to replace the battery.
We know that some of you are attached to your manual thermostat or are not able to switch to a programmable one. If that is the case, you can still make the most of your manual thermostat. Typically adjusting the temperature by five to eight degrees is a good rule of thumb for saving energy.
Properly using the programmable thermostat at home is one of the easiest things you can do to lower your energy costs. It is as simple as set and save.
To learn more check out the ENERGY STAR website at energystar.gov/pts and remember even small energy saving changes at home can make a big difference in helping us win the fight against global warming. I am Wendy Reed and on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, thanks for watching.
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