At home, we all like to keep warm and cozy in winter and fresh and cool in summer. Our thermostat settings help us control space-heating and cooling systems, but do we use them correctly?
Thermostats are a great way to save money on cooling costs and HVAC systems. The advent of smart thermostats and Wi-Fi thermostats has dramatically increased homeowners’ potential for energy efficiency.
In this article, we’ll explore how you can save energy — and money — using almost any programmable thermostat. We’ll also look at why smart thermostats are a fantastic option for energy-saving thermostats.
What Is an Energy-Saving Thermostat?
A thermostat is a tool that regulates temperatures, activating heating or cooling systems when a room’s temperature reaches a certain point. That can mean turning space-heating systems on when temperatures drop or activating air conditioning when it’s hot outside.
You can set schedules with most thermostats so you can keep your home at a comfortable temperature throughout the day and night. However, basic programmable thermostats react only to the instructions given.
Energy-saving thermostats, also known as smart thermostats, are more dynamic. These energy-saving thermostats connect to cooling and heating systems to offer extra functionality. Some can even learn your behaviors and energy use that eventually help cut your energy costs.
Why Should I Install an Energy-Saving Thermostat?
Leaving your thermostat at one temperature for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, does not make for an energy-efficient house.
Energy-saving thermostats, or smart thermostats, allow you to fine-tune your home’s energy use. Smart thermostats use Wi-Fi to create an integrated energy network for your home.
You can control and monitor your energy usage from your cell phone, computer, or another smart device. You can also program your thermostat for different temperatures on different days of the week and override these remotely should your plans change.
Such control precision means you can keep track of your energy usage over time, helping you understand how and where you spend money on energy. It may even help you identify rooms that need more insulation or suffer drafts. An energy-saving thermostat is a key to saving money.
What Features Do Energy-Saving Thermostats Have?
Smart thermostats monitor, analyze, and learn from our heating and cooling data. Typical energy-saving thermostat features include:
- Learning your temperature preferences.
- Adjusting and establishing energy-saving schedules to fit your temperature preferences.
- Taking into account when you’re asleep or away from home.
- Controlling your home’s temperature remotely via an app on your smartphone or a smart device.
- Detailing temperature data so you can review and manage your energy use.
- Geofencing technology broadcasts your cell phone’s location to your smart thermostat. The thermostat then adjusts your home’s temperature if it spots that you’re on the way home, on vacation, and so on.
Will a Programmable Thermostat Affect My Energy Bill?
According to Energy Star, the average annual U.S. home energy bill was $2,060 in 2016. Some 43% of that energy, or $875, was spent on heating and cooling in dwellings with a natural gas furnace and central air conditioning.
The U.S. Department of Energy says homeowners can easily save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling bills. People can achieve this by turning a thermostat down 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit from its standard heating setting for eight hours a day, or up the same amount for cooling.
Smart thermostats are designed to help us understand the energy usage of our home’s heating and cooling systems. Greater control means energy savings are possible for almost every home.
How Do I Know What Temperature Is Best for My Home?
The United States covers a vast range of climates and house types. People also have varying opinions on what is a comfortable temperature at home.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued these guideline temperatures. Let’s look at the recommended warmest household temperatures for a dwelling in a colder climate first.
- Wake-up (6 a.m.): Below 70 degrees Fahrenheit
- Daytime (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.): Set back at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit
- Evening (6 p.m.): Below 70 degrees Fahrenheit
- Sleep (10 p.m.): Set back at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit
The idea is to not overheat your home during the day and keep it comfortable when sleeping at night. The house is cooler during the day because people are usually more active then, helping to keep them warm.
For people in warmer climates or experiencing sweltering summers, the EPA recommends reaching the following temperatures before starting the air conditioning.
- Wake-up (6 a.m.): Above 78 degrees Fahrenheit
- Daytime (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.): Set up at least 7 degrees Fahrenheit
- Evening (6 p.m.): Above 78 degrees Fahrenheit
- Sleep (10 p.m.): Set up at least 4 degrees Fahrenheit
Here, the thinking is to reduce air conditioning and energy use. Evenings and sleeping can be cooler by opening windows and making the most of natural breezes.
Is 72 Degrees Fahrenheit Too High for Thermostats in Winter?
The main factor that dictates your thermostat setting in winter is the temperature you feel comfortable in your home.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy and Energy Star, 72 degrees Fahrenheit is too high of a thermostat setting for winter. The ideal winter thermostat setting is 68 degrees Fahrenheit while awake and lower while away from home or sleeping.
How Cool Should My House Be if It’s 100 Degrees Fahrenheit Outside?
Most air conditioning units cool internal air to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the outside temperature. That math means setting the thermostat to 80 degrees Fahrenheit when it’s 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside.
However, cooling industry experts recommend setting your thermostat to around 78 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce the stress on your AC or HVAC system.
The EPA’s recommended summer thermostat settings listed above are designed to help your body adapt to higher temperatures, rather than using the air conditioner as the only answer to heatwaves.
Is It Cheaper to Leave Your Thermostat at One Temperature?
No, it’s not cheaper in the long term to keep your thermostat at one temperature. You’ll end up paying for heating or cooling when you’re not at home.
The EPA recommends using energy-saving temperatures for as long as possible, especially when the property is empty or once everyone has gone to bed.
Does It Save Money to Lower the Thermostat at Night?
Yes, during winter and cold weather, you’ll save money by lowering your thermostat at night because you will use less energy heating unoccupied rooms.
Research has shown that sleeping in cooler rooms gives us a better night’s sleep, too. A lower thermostat setting will mean you can rest easy, knowing you’re saving money while boosting your health.
How Do I Set My Thermostat for Maximum Energy Savings?
There are several tips for setting your thermostat for maximum energy savings. These are:
- Find your coldest (in winter) and warmest (in summer) thermostat settings through experimentation. Drop or raise the thermostat setting by one degree until you find your optimum.
- Set your thermostat to energy-saving temperatures when away from home or asleep.
- If possible, ensure your thermostat is installed on an interior wall and away from any appliance or lighting that can affect its readings, e.g., direct sunlight, radiators, or doorways.
- Consider purchasing an energy-saving smart thermostat to analyze and identify possible energy savings.
- Set your programmable thermostat to heating and cooling patterns that suit your lifestyle patterns.
- Carry out an energy audit of your home to ensure its insulation is adequate.
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How Do I Program an Energy-Saving Thermostat?
There are two main types of programmable thermostats: digital and electromechanical, with some thermostats being a mix of the two.
Electromechanical thermostats have pegs or sliding bars that allow people to choose when their heating or cooling systems work. These systems offer some energy-saving possibilities but are limited — homeowners must be present to alter their settings.
Digital thermostats bring more options, such as settings for every day of the week and overrides. Smart thermostats connected via Wi-Fi to smart devices can offer remote operation, energy-use learning, devising temperature scenarios, and more.
What Is the Energy-Saving Mode on My Thermostat?
A thermostat’s energy-saving mode instantly overrides the program on which it’s running.
A thermostat in energy-saving mode will only turn the heating on once it detects a low preset temperature. Similarly, it kick-starts the air conditioning when a home reaches a preset high temperature.
Both examples save energy and are helpful when you leave home and don’t have time to reprogram your thermostat.
Do Baseboards Need a Specific Thermostat?
Baseboard heating systems need different thermostats than other heating and cooling systems.
Baseboards require a thermostat wired into your home’s electrical supply — we recommend calling in a professional to undertake this dangerous and potentially life-threatening work.
Smart thermostats are available for baseboard systems that give you control from a smart device. Each baseboard heater will require a thermostat.
Can Homes With Heat Pumps Use Energy-Saving Thermostats?
Buildings with heat pumps work on a different energy-saving strategy than most other heating systems.
Heat pumps work best in well-insulated homes, using moderate temperature settings to slowly heat rooms. They don’t always respond efficiently if temperatures change often and suddenly.
There are some heat pump-suitable programmable thermostats on the market.
How Do I Operate My Smart Thermostat Remotely?
Energy-saving, or smart, thermostats can be controlled in three ways, all using Wi-Fi for connectivity.
Smart hubs are increasingly common as we start to turn our houses into smart homes — think Amazon’s Echo Dot and Google’s Nest. Some smart thermostats can connect to these hubs, meaning you can speak and use voice control to turn the heating off when in hearing range. Hubs and related applications make remote control of your home’s temperature possible, too.
Many people now handle their smart thermostats using smart home apps, often linked to a smart hub. Smart devices like smartphones, computers, and tablets pair with the applications, which means the thermostat can be remote-controlled.
The apps collect data about the thermostat’s operation, giving insights that allow us to improve the programming for your dwelling’s temperatures. For example, it may learn that you usually go to bed around 11 p.m. and adjust the heating accordingly, so you’re comfortable in bed, without you lifting a finger. All these scenarios can be overridden manually.
A central control unit uses Wi-Fi to connect smart devices with a wall-mounted panel. These systems are more common in luxury residences and businesses.
How to Choose the Best Energy-Saving Smart Thermostat?
It’s important to note that smart thermostats take a little time and patience to benefit from them entirely.
However, you could soon be able to switch on your home’s heating from your vacation because you’ve seen a cold snap coming. Or perhaps you’ll arrive home to a cooled kitchen because your smart home knew you were on the way back from work.
Let’s look at how to compare energy-saving smart thermostats so you purchase the most appropriate one for your home.
What Smart Thermostat Models Are on the Market?
The following is not an exhaustive list but gives an excellent idea of what’s available on the smart thermostat market. Ensure that your smart thermostat is compatible with your smart devices and operating systems. There are two major systems: Android and Apple’s iOS.
The ecobee smart thermostat offers voice control, smart sensors, remote operation, and is Energy Star-certified. Ecobee claims it can save you up to 26% on your energy bills.
Honeywell offers various thermostats and other smart devices, which can all connect through its Honeywell Home smart hub.
The Google Nest learning thermostat integrates with Google Assistant and the Google Home App to deliver an authentic smart-home experience. Google Nest speakers are compatible with Google Assistant so that you can voice-control your Google Nest thermostat.
Many people have Amazon’s Alexa and Echo devices, which act as smart hubs alongside the Alexa app. Many smart thermostats work with the Alexa app, including Google Nest, Honeywell models, and Emerson.
Apple users can operate an ecobee smart thermostat from an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook through its Apple Homekit.
Advanced smart hubs mean you could eventually set up voice-activated heating scenarios and routines. Simply saying “bedtime” or “vacation” will instruct your smart hub to alter your heating and cooling systems to your preset preferences.
An Energy-Saving Thermostat Is a Smart Move
Any thermostat gives you more control over your heating and cooling systems and, therefore, your ability to manage your energy use.
A smart thermostat, also known as an energy-saving thermostat, is the latest step in the evolution of home temperature control. Energy-saving thermostats grant you control not only of the how and when of your home’s temperature, but they can learn and respond to your behavior.
Energy savings and saved dollars follow once we see how we waste energy on heating and cooling. Sometimes it just takes some extra data to push us toward greater energy efficiency and help in the battle against climate change.
Brought to you by energysavings.com
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