The thermostat is the cheapest efficiency upgrade in the house, because it costs nothing to change how you use it. A few habits make most of the difference.
A good starting point
- Winter: around 68°F while you're home and awake, a few degrees lower overnight and while you're out.
- Summer: around 78°F while you're home, higher while you're out.
The U.S. Department of Energy suggests these as a starting point. Comfort matters more than a number, so adjust from there. The rule of thumb is that every degree closer to the outdoor temperature saves a little.
Should I turn it off when I leave?
For a few hours, set it back rather than off: a few degrees cooler in winter, or warmer in summer. For a day or more, set it back further. On a very hot day, turning cooling off completely means the system has to pull a hot house all the way down when you get back, which takes a long time.
With a heat pump, keep winter setbacks small. A heat pump heats most efficiently running steadily at a moderate output, so holding a steady temperature, or setting back only a couple of degrees, usually costs less than letting the house cool way down and asking it to catch up.
Fan: Auto or On?
Auto runs the fan only when the system is heating or cooling. On runs it all the time. Auto uses less electricity, and in summer it lets the indoor coil drain between cycles instead of blowing moisture back into the house. On can help even out temperatures between rooms, at the cost of running the fan motor all day.
Small things that help
- Don't crank it way up or down to heat or cool faster. It doesn't go faster, it just overshoots.
- Keep lamps and TVs away from the thermostat; their heat fools it.
- If your electric plan charges more in the late afternoon and evening, cool the house a little before then and let it coast.
- Replace the batteries once a year, before they die on a cold night.
Programmable and smart thermostats
A programmable thermostat does the setbacks for you on a schedule. A smart thermostat learns your routine, can adjust when everyone has left, and lets you change settings from your phone. Either one only saves money if its schedule matches how you actually live.
Want help choosing a thermostat that matches your system? Call us at 805-965-6326 or send us a message.
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