Simple Steps to Energy Savings with Programmable Thermostats

Follow these simple guidelines to achieve significant energy and money savings that are possible through the proper use of your programmable thermostat.

Choose the right programmable thermostat - There are three types of programmable thermostats designed to best fit your daily schedule. Learn more about the energy saving features that each model offers. Rebate qualified programmable thermostats come with four pre-programmed settings and maintain those settings within two degrees. Many qualified models also come with additional features, such as:

• Digital, backlit displays
• Touch pad screen programming
• Voice and/or phone programming
• Hold/Vacation features
• Indicators which tell you when it's time to change air filters
• Indicators that signal malfunctioning of heating/cooling systems
• Adaptive Recovery/ Smart Recovery features - control features that senses the amount of time it will take to reach the next set-point temperature, and reach desired temperatures by the set time

To decide which model is best for you, think about your schedule and how often you are away from home for regular periods of time - work, school, other activities - and then decide which of the three different models best fits your schedule: the 7-day, 5+2-day, or the 5-1-1-day.

• 7-day models are best if your daily schedule tends to change. They give you the most flexibility, and let you set different programs for different days - usually with four possible temperature periods per day.
• 5+2-day models use the same schedule every weekday, and another for weekends.
• 5-1-1 models are best if you tend to keep one schedule Monday through Friday and another schedule on Saturdays and Sundays.

Properly set and use your thermostat - Follow these guidelines to achieve savings:

1. Keep the temperature set at its energy savings set-points for long periods of time (at least eight hours), for example, during the day, when no one is at home, and through the night, after bedtime.
2. All thermostats let you temporarily make an area warmer or cooler, without erasing the pre-set programming. This override is cancelled automatically at the next program period. You use more energy (and end up paying more on energy bills) if you consistently "hold" or over-ride the pre-programmed settings.
3. Units typically have 2 types of hold features: (a) hold/permanent/vacation; (b) temporary. Avoid using the hold/permanent/vacation feature to manage day to day temperature settings. "Hold" or "vacation" features are best when you're planning to be away for an extended period. Set this feature at a constant, efficient temperature (i.e. several degrees warmer temperature in summer, several degrees cooler during winter), when going away for the weekend or on vacation. You'll waste energy and money if you leave the "hold" feature at the comfort setting while you're away.
4. Cranking your unit up to 90 degrees or down to 40 degrees, for example, will not heat or cool your house any faster. Most thermostats, including rebate qualified units, begin to heat or cool at a set time, to reach setpoint temperatures sometime thereafter. Units with adaptive (smart/intelligent) recovery features are an exception to this rule.
5. Many homes use just one thermostat to control the whole house. If your home has multiple heating or cooling zones, you'll need a programmed setback thermostat for each zone to maximize comfort, convenience and energy savings throughout the house. Southwest Gas offers two programmable thermostat rebates per residence.
6. If your programmable thermostat runs on batteries, don't forget to change the batteries each year. Some units will indicate when batteries must be changed.

Source: EnergyStar.gov

RETURN TO: High-Efficiency Equipment Rebate Program