The kids are back in school, but a new school year brings new expenses. Whether it is the cost of gas driving kids to extracurricular activities or buying a new sports uniform; if you are like most parents, you are probably looking for ways to save some money.
We have an easy money saving tip for you: If you are still running your AC, raise your thermostat 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re gone during the day to save up to 10% on your cooling costs. When it is time to switch on the furnace, do the opposite. Lower your thermostat 7-10 degrees to save on heating costs.
For a typical family, turning the thermostat up in the summer and down in the winter can save up to $180 a year.
Here is how it works:
When you adjust your thermostat to a higher temperature in the summer and cooler temperature in the winter, your system uses less energy. And the less energy you use the more money you’ll save on your utility bill.
If your kids are at school and you are at work why heat or cool an unoccupied house?
Here is a hypothetical daily schedule during furnace season:
1. You wake up at 6 am to get yourself and the kids ready.
2. Before you leave at 7:30 am turn your thermostat down 10 degrees.
3. When you and the kids return home around 5:30 pm, you turn the thermostat back up to your desired temperature and repeat.
It is simple. The only thing you must do is remember to raise or lower your thermostat before you leave home.
If you are worried about forgetting to adjust the thermostat, there is another solution…
Install a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat allows you to “set it and forget it.” You set the temperatures based on the times you are normally home and your habits, and then you almost never have to bother with it.
Programmable thermostats come in a variety of makes and models. Some models have very basic features while others have all the bells and whistles. A basic programmable thermostat will allow you to program a heating and cooling schedule. A more complex programmable thermostat also helps reduce the amount of energy you use, but they also offer more flexibility and even further reduction in what you spend. For example, you can purchase a thermostat that allows you to remotely access your system while you are away from home. So, if something unexpected comes up and you are not coming home at the time you programmed the thermostat for, you can manually override the program so it won’t turn on yet.
Some models will also tell you how much energy you are using and how you can switch things up to enhance energy use by analyzing things like local weather, how large your home is, and how much activity there is.
Having a programmable thermostat installed in your home is a win-win situation. They are convenient, bring added comfort, and save you both time and money.
Burkholder’s HVAC offers programmable thermostat installation. Contact us for pricing information.