Published July, 2020

Adjusting just a few degrees on your cooling can save your money! 

Do you want to save money on your heating and air bill every month? Everyone does. Now you can save money while you sleep or are away from home. Have a plan for your thermostat when you’re not home. Some thermostats even have as many as six or more settings a day to allow you to have a comfortable temperature when you get home without being inconvenienced or sacrificing your comfort. It’s possible to save 10% a year on your heating and air bills by adjusting your thermostat back 7-10 degrees for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.  

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In the winter, the optimum temperature to save money is 68 degrees while you are awake and even lower if asleep. In the summer, the optimum temperature for your thermostat setting is 78 degrees. The smaller the difference between your indoor and outdoor temperatures will ensure a bigger saving on your heating and cooling bill.  

Thermostats can be adjusted manually but programmable thermostats will allow for your comfort by returning temperatures to normal before you wake or return home. There are, however, limitations to the savings with heat pumps, resistance heating, steam heat and radiant floor heating. 

It is smart to avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. Prior to popular thought, your home will not cool any faster and could result extra expense.  With heat, when your home drops below its normal temperature, it loses energy to the outside slower. Your furnace does not have to work harder to warm the space as commonly thought. The lower the temperature on the inside, the slower your home will lose heat and the more energy that you save because your home stays at a lower, more consistent temperature.  

The same concept applies to raising your thermostat setting in the summer. The higher the thermostat is set, the less it has to work to cool off your home. All of this is saving energy and money. 

When programming your thermostat, it is essential to estimate your hours of sleep and work. It is best to adjust the temperature when the home is unoccupied, or sleep permits a 4 or more-hour time period.  

The location of your thermostat can also influence your energy costs. It may cause false readings and have unnecessary furnace or air conditioning cycling if placed in direct sunlight, in front of drafts, doorways, skylights or windows. It is also important to place the thermostat in a place of convenience and unobstructed by furniture.  

Follow these tips and you can save energy and money!