How to program your thermostat
It's well publicized that using a programmable thermostat is a relatively easy way to save energy and money. You'll also reduce your home's greenhouse gas emissions. The only caveat: You actually have to use it properly.
Here are the basics.
- In the winter, The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 68 degrees while you're at home and awake. Here's the DOE's math on what you'll save: About 5 to 15 percent a year on your heating bill if you turn it back 10 to 15 degrees for at least 8 hours (as much as 1% for each degree).
- The Energy Star Program's suggestions are a little different. Maintain at 70 degrees when you're awake. Turn your thermostat down at least 8 degrees when you're asleep or out. For maximum savings, set your thermostat back when you're at work and at night when you're sleeping.
- If you have central air conditioning, both DOE and Energy Star suggest leaving your thermostat at 78 degrees when you're at home. Raise it when you're out or sleeping.
- One common misperception, according to the DOE, is that your furnace will have to work harder to warm the space back to your preferred temperature so there will be little actual savings. Studies show that the fuel required to reheat your home back up is about equal to the fuel saved as the building drops in temperature. The upshot: You'll save fuel from the time the temperature hits the lower level you programmed it for until it starts rising again. The longer the time period, the greater the savings.
Need to go shopping for a thermostat? There are different models to choose from depending on your needs and schedule. Click here for detailed buying and installation tips.
Check out Energy Star's video podcast to see how to program a thermostat and for other useful tips:
Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping.
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