how-to-save-energy-and-money

Want to Save Money and Sleep Better? Turn Down the Temp in Your Home

January 9, 2017

Even if you have a high-efficiency heating and cooling system and a perfectly weatherized home, you might still have an opportunity to save energy. Many homeowners, with improved operation of their programmable thermostat, could cut energy consumption even more than they already have. They might get some better sleep as well.

The basic idea behind a programmable thermostat, aside from its convenience, is to allow for energy-saving temperature changes (or setbacks) during times when the house is empty or occupants are asleep.

To give you an idea of how you can save energy with a programmable thermostat, here's a sample wintertime programming schedule for a typical weekday:

  • Evening. This is the main time when you'll want a regular awake-time temperature, perhaps 68 or thereabouts in the winter.
  • Nighttime. Set back the thermostat by several degrees for a more comfortable sleeping climate. You should have plenty of blankets to keep you warm.
  • Morning. Program the thermostat to warm up the house a half hour or so before your alarm clock is set to go off. (If you and your family clear out of the house relatively quickly in the morning, consider forgoing this step. Heating a house by several degrees for a short period of time is a waste of energy).
  • Daytime. Set back the temperature by as much as 6-10 degrees while you and family members are away at work or school. Program the temperature to return to the evening setting shortly before you're supposed to arrive home.

If you're shopping for a new programmable thermostat, consider one with WiFi capabilities. With this, you can adjust the programming from a remote location on your smartphone, tablet or computer.

If you don't have a programmable thermostat, you can still save energy with a manual model. It just takes some self-discipline and a good memory, though you won't be able to adjust it if you're not physically present.

For more advice on how to save energy in your Des Moines area home with a programmable thermostat, or with weatherization or an HVAC system upgrade, please contact us as Lozier Heating & Cooling.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Des Moines, Iowa area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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