The Numbers behind Programmable Thermostat Savings

One of the best ways to winterize your home and save energy during the cold months here in Oklahoma City is to use a programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat allows you to put your home's heating levels on autopilot. Unlike other thermostats that require you to manually adjust your home's temperature settings, a programmable thermostat allows you to set your daily and hourly settings once and allow the thermostat to adjust the levels automatically.

Along with the convenience of a programmable thermostat, you can also save some serious cash on your energy bills if you set it correctly.

What kind of savings can you get with a programmable thermostat?

As a rule of thumb, you can save about one percent annually on your energy bills for every degree that you lower your thermostat over an eight hour period.

For example, if you set your programmable thermostat to lower your home's temperature by five degrees during the hours that you're normally sleeping (about 8 hours), you'd see a five percent decrease in energy costs for the year.

What settings can you use to save money without sacrificing comfort?

While saving money and energy is great, you still want to be warm and comfortable in your home. That's what your furnace is there for! By following these recommended settings for your programmable thermostat, you can save about 10 percent annually on your energy bills:

• Anytime you're awake in your home: 68 degrees
• Anytime you're sleeping in your home: 58-60 degrees
• Anytime you're away from your home for more than 4 hours: 58-60 degrees

Of course, you can achieve these savings with a regular thermostat too. But the great thing about a programmable thermostat is that you can adjust it to your weekly routine and save money without even thinking about it!

If you have any questions about programmable thermostats or would like help installing one in your home, contact Comfort Incorporated, your Oklahoma City heating and air conditioning company.