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One of the easiest ways to save heating dollars during the winter
months is to lower the temperature setting on your thermostat.
Lowering the temperature setting can be done manually, or by
installing a programmable thermostat, which reduces the
temperature automatically for you.
Programmable thermostats allow you to set household temperature
for specific periods throughout the day and night. As a general
rule, you can save two per cent on the space-heating portion of
your bill for every 1°C you consistently turn down the thermostat
over the heating period.
For example, if you use 100 gigajoules (GJ) of natural gas each
year for home heating and lower the temperature setting from 21°C
to 17°C for approximately eight hours, then you will save you
about eight GJ a year.
Many people share the common misconception that a furnace has to
work harder than normal to warm the space back to a comfortable
temperature after it’s been set back, resulting in little or no
savings. Years of research and numerous studies have dispelled
this myth. The fuel required to reheat a home to a comfortable
temperature is roughly equal to the fuel saved when the thermostat
is set back to the lower temperature. Fuel savings occur between
the time the temperature stabilizes at the lower level and the
next time heat is required. The longer your house remains at the
lower temperature, the more energy you save.
Installing a programmable thermostat has numerous benefits, many
of which perform one or more of the following energy-control
functions:
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store and repeat multiple daily settings, which can be manually
overridden without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly
program
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store six or more temperature settings a day
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adjust heating turn-on times as the outside temperature changes
Programmable thermostats can be found at most home improvement
stores and outlets that sell heating equipment.
Types available:
Electromechanical (EM) -
typically the easiest to operate,
having manual controls such as movable tabs which set a rotary
timer, as well as sliding levers for night and day temperature
settings
Digital -
identified by their LED or LCD
digital readout and data-entry pads or buttons
Hybrid
- combined technology of digital
controls with manual slides and knobs, simplifying use and
maintaining flexibility
Occupancy
- maintain the setback temperature
until someone presses a button to call for heat, and this type
does not rely on the time of day
Light Sensing -
rely on light-levels set by the owner
to activate the heating system.
When lighting is reduced, a photocell inside the thermostat senses
unoccupied conditions and allows temperatures to fall below the
occupied temperature setting.
Here are some questions to ask before buying a thermostat.
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Does the thermostat have an Energy Star rating? These products
meet strict energy efficiency guidelines.
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Is the thermostat compatible with the electrical wiring in your
current thermostat?
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Are the programming instructions easy to understand and
remember? Will you have to consult the instruction manual every
time you want to change the setback times?
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Are you able to install the thermostat yourself or should you
hire a contractor?
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Does the unit’s clock draw its power from the heating system’s
low voltage electrical control circuit instead of a battery? If
so, is the clock disrupted when the furnace cycles on and off?
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How precise is the thermostat?
When installing any thermostat, be sure to place or position the
device where it won’t be affected by heat and draft sources such
as direct sunlight, hot-air ducts, appliances, stairwells and
exterior doors.
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