Home heating and cooling consume a significant portion of a normal household budget. By using setback thermostats, you can save a substantial amount of money on your energy bills while still maintaining an excellent level of comfort throughout your home.

Setback thermostats, often called programmable thermostats, give you precise control over the operation of your heating and cooling systems. They contain preprogrammed temperature settings, called set points, that allow you to use energy-saving settings while your family is away during the day at work or school. The lower level of operation saves money and energy. And there is no sacrifice in comfort, because you can set the thermostat to return your home to a more comfortable temperature before you return.

To get the best performance from your setback thermostat:

• Maintain set points for at least eight hours at a time: Longer periods of reduced HVAC system operation increase savings.
• Avoid using manual overrides: Setback thermostats have manual overrides that allow you to raise or lower temperatures as needed. Use these overrides only when necessary. By using them too much, you lose the benefit of having a programmable thermostat in the first place.
• Use settings that reflect your activities: Programmable thermostats have several types of set points that can be very convenient for you. Seven-day models allow you to establish set points for individual days. 5-2 models establish consistent set points for weekdays, with different settings for weekends. 5-1-1 models also maintain consistent set points for weekdays, but accommodate different scheduling for both Saturday and Sunday.

Contact Sage Builders, LLC today for more information on how to use setback thermostats to save money and energy while keeping your home comfortable in all seasons.

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