Proper insulation may be the first thing you think of as you get ready for the upcoming Oklahoma winter, and it's certainly important. However, programmable thermostats should also be included in your energy efficiency arsenal. They can help you maintain indoor temps easily and automatically -- just "set and forget." Even better, these thermostats can save you significant money on your energy bills. How?
Set automatic temperature settings for different times of day
Programmable thermostats can help you save energy by letting you set different temperatures for different times of day. You can save as much as 10 percent on your energy bills with careful use. For example, setting your thermostat for 68 degrees during the day and a few degrees lower at night is advised during Oklahoma's winter months, while setting it to 78 degrees around the clock during the summer months will help you reduce your energy bills almost effortlessly. (These thermostats easily store multiple temperature settings to be used at various times of day or night -- no need to keep track yourself.)
Heat or cool individual rooms with zoning systems
Install a zoning system, and you can set programmable thermostats to individual temperatures for each room or zone. If you don't spend a lot of time in certain areas, you can set thermostats in those zones to more energy-efficient temperatures (or even shut them off altogether), but keep often-used rooms like the living room at more comfortable temperatures.
Choose your temperature set points, and then leave them be
Programmable thermostats conserve energy and save you money because they seamlessly keep indoor temperatures steady once you set them. If you are constantly "playing" with your thermostat and changing temperature settings, your system won't be able to do its job properly. In fact, you could lose any cost savings you might otherwise see if you do so. Choose temperature settings for Oklahoma's fall and winter temps, and then leave them be until spring rolls around.
For more information and advice on programmable thermostats or other needs, please contact us at Air Assurance. We've been serving Broken Arrow and the Tulsa area since 1985.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock