7 Winter Energy Savings Tips That Stem From Your Thermostat
Jan 06, 2017
Did you know that your thermostat could save you money? The settings on your thermostat can be one of the most important factors on how big your winter electric bill is each month. These nine tips can help you fight against high power bills.
- Turn down the heat at night- A 5 to 10-degree difference can lead to savings of up to 5 to 10 percent of your winter heating bill!1
- Install a programmable thermostat- Thermostats with timers can be programmed to allow the house to cool slightly at night, then start warming back up in the morning before you wake up. They can also be set to allow the house to cool again during the day, then warm up before you get home. Many even have an option for a different heating schedules on weekends.1
- Individual room thermostats- This allows you to shut off thermostats in rooms that are not being occupied. You can have cool settings in one room and a warmer setting in another, and save money by customizing your power use. You might, for example, keep the living room warmer than the kitchen (a cooler kitchen also means your refrigerator and freezer don’t have to work as hard, and you won’t overheat while cooking.)1
- Turn down the heat when you throw a party- Remember to reduce the heat by 5 degrees or more depending on the size of your guest list – human bodies give off a lot of heat can you can expect a raised temperature in the room.1
- Save money while on vacation- When you go away on vacation for a weekend or more, turn your thermostat down to 55 degrees F. This will still keep your home warm enough for plants and pipes, but will save a lot of money.1
- Go wireless- If you can digitalize your thermostat and connect it to your wireless network, you can remotely tell your thermostat to raise the temperature when you're about to head home and arrive to a warm cozy home.1
- Drop your thermostat by 1 degree- Try lowering your thermostat’s base setting by 1 degree and see how comfortable the temperature is for a week. Then drop it by another degree. You will acclimate and if you can manage to drop your daytime standard temp by even just 3-4 degrees, it can give you additional savings.1
By utilizing all of the options your thermostat gives you, or installing a new one with some bells and whistles, you can customize your heating experience and stay comfortable while lowering your monthly bill.
Sources:
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