Use a programmable thermostat and save money

A programmable thermostat can help save money. According to “Credit Donkey” the average American family spends $1200 a year on electricity. Much of that electricity goes specifically to heat and cool our homes. Because we spend so much on it, cutting back on the use of electricity would be a logical place to trim waste. There are many ways to limit the amount of electricity we use.

Use a programmable thermostat and save money. Most of them are easy to install and operate. and well worth the money.

Note: Of course, there are energy sources other than electricity used for heating, like oil, propane, and natural gas. For cooling, however, it’s usually electricity. Regardless of the energy source, heating and cooling result in high usage, and the principle behind using a programmable thermostat is to reduce consumption and save money.

Programmable thermostats are frugal.

 

Use a programmable thermostat and save money

Installing a programmable thermostat is not difficult. You can pick up one of these thermostats at almost any hardware store. They come with installation and programming instructions, so it’s unlikely you’ll need an electrician, or even a handyman; most people install them themselves. I do think, however, it’s a good idea to ask someone at the store with some knowledge of the product about any suggestions. Also, before you go to buy your programmable thermostat, do some research. If you know a bit about the model you’re thinking of buying, you’ll be able to ask informed questions. As soon as you have it installed and programmed, you’ll immediately begin to use less electricity and can start saving money.

Home comfort level for less

Before programmable thermostats became available, many of us seemed to be constantly adjusting the traditional ones. If you didn’t adjust the thermostat on your way out of the house, the furnace or air conditioner would run to maintain your place at the temperature you chose when you were home. On the other hand, if you did adjust the thermostat, you’d come home to air warmer or cooler than you’d really enjoy.

With a programmable thermostat, you don’t have to remember to change the setting on your way out. Also, you can come home to your place being a comfortable temperature and know that your electricity or other fuel has not been wasted all day on an empty house. (That’s the economic factor.)

Depending on the model you install, you may be able to set your programmable thermostat to accommodate a varying schedule. Once programmed, many models can switch smoothly from weekday to weekend mode.

In houses that have zone temperature control, if various rooms are used on a regular schedule (like bedrooms), a programmable thermostat in each area can have the spaces comfortable for use when you are ready but maintain the temperature at a more economical level when no one is likely to occupy them.

It’s easy to see why if you use a  programmable thermostat it will save you money.

Can you use a programmable thermostat in your home

As long as you have electricity to operate it, you can use a programmable thermostat in a house, mobile home, or condo. Of course, if you’re renting, you’ll need the property management’s permission to install it, and in this case, it may need to be installed by their maintenance people. I’ve read that even some apartment complexes will allow the switch.

How to save money using a programmable thermostat

Your savings from using a programmable thermostat come on two levels:

• The programmed thermostat can automatically adjust temperature settings according to your preferences at predetermined times. This means you can save money by using less energy when everyone is gone from house.
• Set your thermostat up a few degrees in warm weather, and in cold weather down a few, to save even more money. Again, you’ll save the money by using less fuel.

(That last one can help you save money, even if you’re using a traditional thermostat.)

Is you house empty

Most people work, and if you’re married there’s a good chance your spouse works also. Do you have children who spend most of the day in school? Maybe you go to school yourself. When no one is going to be home for hours and hours there’s no need to heat or cool the house as if there were. So don’t.

Program your programmable thermostat so you are not wasting fuel on an empty residence.  Some people have the thermostat programmed to change the heating or cooling setting one hour before they leave for their daily routine away from home; they may also have it set to start to heating or cooling to a comfortable level shortly before the family begins to return.

Note: Don’t turn your thermostat off, especially in the winter. Turning it off may cause pipes to freeze and burst. You’ll have a huge mess to clean up. Even worse, fixing the pipes and water damage to your house can be very expensive.

Also, your electric appliances, especially the refrigerator, operate best when the ambient temperature is between 60 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. If the air is cooler than 60 degrees the compressor doesn’t need to run very much and ceases to push much coolant. This might seem like a frugal way to save money on energy costs, but what really happens is the temperature in the refrigerator rises and food can spoil; that can be expensive.

When the temperature is above 110, the compressor (which is run by a motor that uses electricty) needs to supply more coolant.  That means the motor runs more or less constantly. A constantly running motor tends to heat up drastically and can burn out—making it another expensive problem to fix.

I know most people wouldn’t let their homes heat up to 110 degrees, but what about your garage? A lot of us keep a second refrigerator or freezer out there and because it’s “out there,” we don’t give much thought to the temperature. Some new homes are built with garages that have heat and cooling systems separate from the rest of the house. In those cases, a programmable thermostat could almost present a “set and forget” situation. As for the rest of us, if we have a refrigerator in the garage and want it to last, we need to have good insulation and proper venting. A fan can help, too.

When we’re all asleep

In the winter, many people turn their heat down at bedtime. This makes sense, since everyone is covered up with blankets and staying warm. But…in the morning, who likes to crawl out of those blankets into a cold room? With a programmable thermostat, you can arrange for the temperature to rise as it gets close to being time to get up.

Not every day is the same

There are 7 days in a week and our schedules can vary by the day. I’ve talked about settings that cover the days everyone will be gone from the house, but weekends are different. On Saturdays and Sundays there may be a lot of coming and going or someone might be home all day. Many programmable thermostats have additional modes that can kick in seamlessly with your schedule.

Also, there may be an occasional day when your regular schedule is out of sync; someone’s home when everyone is usually gone. Most programmable thermostats have a function that will allow you to input a temporary change. That’s convenient because you don’t have to remember to switch back to the mode that helps you save money when everyone is gone.

Vacation

Do you take vacations, occasionally leaving your house empty for at least several days? If you do, be frugal about it and save some money on your energy costs. Whether you have a traditional or programmable thermostat, set it so the heating/cooling system runs only to maintain the property—not for comfort. Of course, you know there is an advantage to having a programmable thermostat over a traditional one in this case: You can set it so that the place will be comfortable when you get home.

Note: As I’ve already mentioned, it’s important to not turn your heating and cooling system off.

Suggested settings

When your home will be vacant for 8 or more hours, to be frugal and save money on the cost of energy for heating or cooling (especially, if your source is electricity), it’s recommended that while you are gone your thermostat be set 5-8 degrees warmer in the summer and 5-10 degrees cooler in the winter than you would have it if you were home. If you are using a programmable thermostat you can have it automatically reset for comfort about the time the family usually returns home. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat you’ll need to manually reset the thermostat at each regular change in occupancy.

Setting your thermostat up or down a few degrees will help you save money. Studies show that for every 1 degree you set your thermostat in the direction of the outside temperature you save 1 percent on your heating and cooling costs. According to the US Department of energy setting and resetting your thermostat in this fashion will save you approximately 5%-15% annually.

Conclusion

Using a programmable thermostat rather than a traditional one can help you save money on electricity or any other energy source you may use to heat and cool your home. Use a programmable thermostat and save money.