Programmable Thermostats- What’s all the hype?

Programmable thermostats are all the craze recently as a new way to save energy and money when it comes to heating and cooling your home.  Energy Star claims that programmable thermostats can save you a few hundred dollars each year on your energy bills if used correctly.

What makes it different than a regular thermostat?

Programmable thermostats are designed to be programmed by the homeowners so that they can adjust their heating and cooling levels to conserve energy when the don’t need as much.  For example, during the winter time a programmable thermostat might be programmed to heat  the house at 70 degrees when you are home but only heat the house to 65 (producing less heat, less energy) when you are not home or sleeping. The same applies for the summer.  A programmable thermostat might be programmed to cool the house to 78 degrees while you are home but and to cool the house to 82 while you are at work or sleeping.

3 Types of Programmable Thermostats

There are three different types of programmable thermostats on the market today. To select the model that works best for your household, think about your schedule and how often you are home and away from home.  Visit Energy Star’s site where they explain the 3 model types.