Program Heating and Cooling to Match Your Schedule
Do you still have one of those old-school thermostat dials where you set the temperature and it stays there until you change it? Or perhaps a “modern” one where you have digital numbers but still can’t do anything but set the desired temperature for right now? It’s time to upgrade your home’s HVAC system with an up-to-date programmable thermostat.
The main benefit of a programmable thermostat
You can program the thermostat to fit your daily and weekly schedule. Most programmable models have separate options for programming weekdays, weekends and a third category. Some allow for a different program every day (for folks with very complicated lives).
This means you can set the temperature at your comfort level for times when you’re home, and then program energy-saving setbacks for when you’re at work or school.
During the winter when most people prefer cooler sleeping temperatures, you can set back the temperature a few degrees overnight. In each case, the thermostat can be set to return to a comfortable temperature before you arrive home from work or expect to awaken.
This saves energy as well as wear and tear on your heating and cooling equipment, reducing the need for future AC or furnace repairs. The principle is simple: There’s absolutely no reason to fully heat or cool an empty house. Setting a schedule that matches your lifestyle is a win-win situation for you and your HVAC system.
Other benefits
With the newer WiFi-programmable models, you can adjust settings from afar, on your smart-phone, tablet, laptop or office computer. For example, if you’re at work and learn that you’re coming home early, you can adjust the thermostat so it kicks on the heating or air conditioning shortly before you get home.
Some models also will give you an alert when the air filter needs changing or humidity control needs to be adjusted. Finally, many modern programmable thermostats come with adaptive technology, which allows them to “learn” your preferences and habits and adjust the device accordingly. The technology is progressing rapidly, so don’t be surprised if other whiz-bang futuristic features are available by the time you’ve read this!
It’s important to remember, though, with a programmable thermostat, the energy-saving benefits don’t manifest themselves if you or other family members are always overriding the settings. With any strategy to save energy and reduce heating and cooling bills, some discipline is required by the homeowner or occupant.
It’s also a good idea to spend some time with the manual for any new smart thermostat. It would be a pity to not explore all of your new device’s capabilities, and then exploit them for energy savings and improved household comfort.
If you prefer sticking with a manual thermostat…
You can still achieve energy savings if you decide you like your old-school manual thermostat just fine. Just get in the habit of dialing back the temperature several degrees before you go to bed or leave for work or school (in the winter) or increasing the setting by several degrees before you leave for the day in the summer.
Upon returning home, you probably won’t need a reminder to adjust the thermostat to your comfort level, since you’ll realize right away that it’s either too cold or too warm.