What Thermostat Settings Should I Make for My Workday?
You spend a significant portion of your day at work or even school. Even though no one is home, your HVAC system continues to run. This requires a lot of energy and seems wasteful. By adjusting the thermostat when you leave for work and returning it to your chosen temperature when you arrive home, you can considerably reduce this expenditure. But how much should be changed on the thermostat?
The energy department believes this isn't true, particularly for a furnace: "You may have been informed that making these adjustments won't be worth it because your comfort system has to work more to get back to your desired temperature, wasting up your savings." A popular myth about thermostats holds that when the thermostat is lowered, the furnace must work harder than usual to bring the room back up to a comfortable temperature, yielding little to no energy savings. In reality, your house will lose less energy to the air as its temperature goes down.
Thermostats that are smart and programmable
Although setting your thermostat before leaving for work has several advantages, it's easy to forget in the rush to be ready and on your way. This is one benefit of smart and programmable thermostats. You can program your thermostat to change its setting automatically during the course of your regular working hours. Additionally, you can adjust the temperature (or the programming schedule) using a smart thermostat and a smartphone or other comparable device. If you forgot to alter the setting before leaving on vacation, this is extremely useful.
Remember Your Pets
Consider your dogs' comfort as well, if you have any. Heavy-furred cats and dogs won't be at ease in hot environments. Additionally, pets with short hair may not always feel comfortable in cold weather. The same can be said for tropical fish, reptiles, and birds. Look into the temperature tolerances of your pets because they vary widely by breed and species.