Programmable Thermostat at Home? Follow these tips to save energy

Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2016

If you have a programmable thermostat in your home, one of the simplest ways to save energy is to set up the  thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature when you are away from home or sleeping.  

With a little effort to set up the schedule, you save money and maintain the comfort of your home. Follow the Energy Star® tips below to maximize the savings from your programmable thermostat:

• Keep the temperature set at its energy savings set-points for long periods of time (at least eight hours), for example, during the day when no one is at home, and through the night after bedtime.
• All thermostats let you temporarily make an area warmer or cooler, without erasing the pre-set programming. This override is cancelled automatically at the next program period. You use more energy (and end up paying more on energy bills) if you consistently “hold” or over-ride the pre-programmed settings.
• Cranking your unit up to 90 degrees or down to 40 degrees, for example, will not heat or cool your house any faster. 
• If your programmable thermostat runs on batteries, don’t forget to change the batteries each year. Some units will indicate when batteries must be changed.

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat yet, consider upgrading. CFU offers a 25% rebate, up to $75, for eligible WiFi enabled thermostats. If you have questions about the use of programmable thermostats, contact CFU Energy Services at 319-266-1761 or email energyservices@cfu.net.