Winter weather has officially arrived, which means you are probably paying a bit more attention to your thermostat. While it may seem insignificant, that little device in your home has more impact than just controlling temperature. Let’s take a look at some of best ways to use your thermostat in a manner that will keep your home comfortable, and your energy bill low.
Turn down the heat at night
This is one that many people already implement into their energy-saving routines. Turning down the thermostat by a few degrees at night will ensure that the heat is not running as much when nobody is awake. Also, a cooler environment is proven to help with sleep!
It’s all about placement
Where you place your thermostat can have a surprising level of impact on the amount of energy your home is using on heating and cooling. It is best to place the thermostat on an interior wall that is away from things like paintings, windows, or appliances. For example, the sun shining on a thermostat can cause it to give out “ghost readings” based off the sunlight that is hitting the device, so keep it tucked away.
Keep it at a reasonable temperature
There is always an urge to jack up the heat when it’s cold outside or crank the AC during the dog days of summer. It is best that you avoid that practice entirely. Setting your thermostat to high temperatures in either direction will overwork your units and ensure that your energy bill will skyrocket. You will find that keeping it at reasonable temperatures does not impact how quickly your home cools down or heats up.
Keep the temps low when guests are over
With the holiday season upon us, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself hosting a large gathering of people. If that’s the case, turn down the thermostat a few degrees beforehand. The body heat of the party will keep everyone warm!
Use a programmable thermostat
In this modern age, it has never been easier to control the climate of your home. Using a smart thermostat makes it easy to adjust temperature remotely via your phone or tablet. This can come in handy when you are away from your home and want to adjust the temperature. If you’re going away for an extended period of time, you can set the temperature remotely so that your heat or AC is not running often, saving you money on your energy bill.
The majority of energy costs that you pay are due to heating and cooling your home, so now is as good of time as ever to implement good habits when it comes to your thermostat. Find more energy-saving tips at NOPEC’s Energy Savings Center!
