Tip 5 - Dialing for Dollars (Thermostats) |
Is your thermostat accurate? If not, chances are that the temperature sensor is being affected by cold air coming though the opening where the thermostat is mounted. Controlling your thermostat is one of the simplest ways to save a great deal of energy -- and money -- all year round.
More about how thermostats work. |
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ENERGY FACTS
- During winter, you can save as much as 3-5 percent of the energy your furnace uses simply by lowering your thermostat 1°F, if it's set between 65° and 72°F.
- In summer, the process is reversed. You save five percent of the energy used by your air conditioner for every degree you raise the thermostat setting, if it's set between 70° and 82°F.
- Do you regularly forget to lower the heat? There are low-priced, easy-to-install thermostats that adjust the temperature automatically. The simplest have built-in clocks and the more advanced models are computerized. An advanced model, for example, will start your furnace 30 minutes before you wake up, turn it off when you leave for work, restart itjust before you return home and then set it for 55°F when you go to bed. Some also have a "minimum energy use" setting which monitors temperatures when you leave on vacation.
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SIMPLE WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY
- Keep the thermostat under control. Recommended winter setting: 68° in the daytime, 55° at night. In summer, turn it to 78°F.
- Check the temperature. Using an accurate thermometer, make sure the temperature near your thermostat is similar to the rest of the house. If it's in a drafty or sunny spot, you may get false readings and waste energy.
- Plug the hole in the wall behind the thermostat with a piece of fiberglass insulation.
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