If you’re like nine out of ten of your fellow Americans, says the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, you have never programmed your home thermostat.
That’s a shame, because managing the temperature of your home with a thermostat is one of the easiest ways to save on energy bills. If you use it correctly, a thermostat will pay for itself in the first year you own it.
The question is, how do you use a thermostat correctly?
Here are some suggestions, courtesy of the U.S Department of Energy, that will give you an optimum balance of comfort and savings.
Winter months:
- When you’re home and awake, target a temperature of 68°F.
- Lower temperatures by 10° for the hours you are asleep or out of the house.
- Remember that turning the temperature to a very high setting will not heat your home any faster; it will only burn more fuel than you need to get the job done.
Summer months:
- When you’re home and awake, program air conditioning to 78°F.
- Program the AC to shut off during the hours when you are not home.
In general:
- Program heat or air conditioner to shut off 20-30 minutes before you leave; return the temperature to normal comfort levels 20 to 30 minutes before you come home.*
- Program reductions in heating or cooling to begin 60 minutes before you go to sleep; return them to normal levels 30 minutes before you awaken.
* If you have wi-fi / wireless thermostat, you can control your home’s temperature from your smart phone.
Be smart and save on your monthly energy bills! Want to save even more? Contact us today to learn about high efficiency heating equipment installation options for your New Jersey or Staten Island home.