| Twenty years ago thermostats were turned up | | | | insects, keep the air circulating by keeping on the |
| and down for comfort levels with absolutely no | | | | fan. |
| thought to saving energy. In fact, the wars over | | | | Programmable Thermostats |
| the thermostat are legendary in most families. | | | | If you are serious about saving energy and |
| There is usually one spouse who wants the house | | | | money your very best decision is to invest in |
| over 72 degrees and the other who wants the | | | | programmable thermostats. They are not too |
| temperature at least 68. | | | | expensive selling at just a bit more than a |
| Today amnesty has been declared! Energy | | | | standard model. However, they can save you |
| efficient homes and saving money now take | | | | money. |
| precedent regarding where to set the thermostat. | | | | For instance, they work the same as other |
| Finding and setting the right temperature is the | | | | thermostats. When your home temperature |
| first goal. The general recommendation is to set | | | | changes so much that the furnace or air |
| the heat at 68 F degrees and at 76 F degrees in | | | | conditioner needs to kick in, they do the work. |
| the summer. Any time you can either move this | | | | However, you can program them to turn on |
| number up or down two degrees will give you a | | | | before you come home from work. If you are |
| substantial cost savings. | | | | gone most of the day and there is no one at |
| For example, if you have your thermostat set at | | | | home, why would you want to keep the furnace |
| 70 F degrees in the winter and feel comfortable | | | | blasting all day? If the period of time that you are |
| walking around in a short sleeve shirt, you may | | | | gone is longer than a couple of hours, these |
| want to turn the temperature down two degrees | | | | programmable thermostats are a blessing. |
| and wear a long sleeve shirt and a fleece vest. | | | | You simply set the time in which you will be home |
| Setting the air condition at 76 F degrees and | | | | and at that time they will kick on. Better models |
| turning on the fan is enough to pull out the | | | | can be programmed for various days of the |
| humidity in the air and keeping it at that level will | | | | week such as Saturday when you may be home |
| save energy because the air conditioner will not | | | | all day. When the time comes to turn on, they |
| have to turn on and off. | | | | turn on by themselves and get your home at the |
| One quick energy saving tip to keep in mind is | | | | right temperature. |
| that if you are not going to be home for a period | | | | You can also program them for different |
| of time, whether it is visiting family, taking a | | | | temperatures at night when you are sleeping. By |
| vacation, or going to a business trip, Turn you | | | | raising the temperature in your home during the |
| thermostat down in the winter to at least 65-62 F | | | | summer a couple of degrees, or lowering it a |
| degrees. As long as your furnace is working your | | | | couple of degrees in the winter, you are saving a |
| pipes will not freeze. If you are leaving during the | | | | great deal of energy and lowering the cost of |
| summer months turn your thermostat to 78. If | | | | your utility bills. |
| you live in a climate where there are a lot of | | | | |