Do Programmable Thermostats Actually Save You Money?

Yes, and no. The programmable thermostat itself has a minor effect on your energy bills. However, setting the thermostat so it doesn't run when not needed does save you energy (and money).

Switching to programmable thermostats to save money only tackles part of the problem. Many people buy electronic models and forget about them or don't adjust them according to their schedule.

The truth is, your thermostat doesn't magically lower your energy usage but correcting bad habits does.

The myth that programmable T-stats greatly reduced energy costs gained a lot of traction around 1995.

In 1995, ENERGY STAR started promoting programmed models as potentially lowering energy bills by 10-30%. Early research suggested thermostats reduced 1% of natural gas use for each Fahrenheit degree reduced during daily sleeping hours. As a result, to improve energy efficiency even power companies encouraged consumers to transition from manual thermostats.

By 2006, new findings told a different story. Instead of programmed thermostats reducing energy costs by 10-30%, the actual savings were around 6%. The 10-30% findings dated back to the 1970s where homes were less insulated and built with less efficient designs.

Additionally, the 1970 data calculated estimated savings based on unrealistic assumptions. The data assumed two things:

1. That replaced thermostats would maintain a constant temperature of 72° F
2. That all thermostat features were set using energy-efficient recommendations

Unsuprisingly, these assumptions didn't apply to the vast majority of users. Most consumers didn't follow EPA recommendations for heating and cooling and therefore never got the advertised savings. In many cases, people used even more energy with their programmable thermostat.

For these reasons, the EPA stopped certifying programmable thermostats with ENERGY STAR badges. Instead, the EPA now encourages useful energy saving habits and responsible thermostat use.

Operating the thermostat

The EPA states you can save up to 10% on energy costs a year using thermostat setbacks of 7 to 10 degrees 8 hours a day. A thermostat setback is the act of adjusting the temperature either lower or higher to save on energy.

On standard thermostats, setbacks need to be done manually, making them tedious to manage. However, programmable and smart thermostats allow for scheduled setbacks that happen at the same time, every time.

When set up around your schedule, programmable thermostats can keep your heating behaviors consistent. For example, if no one is home weekdays between 8am and 4pm you can program accordingly. You can schedule the system to adjust the thermostat off or to higher temperatures during those hours.

If you're unsure what temperature to set your home, follow the guidelines below:

• Increase temps by 7° F when away from home
• Increase temps by 4° F when asleep / sleeping hours

During summer months, increase the indoor temperature while you're away and set it to the highest temp you feel comfortable in while you're home. This allows for you to control the humidity while staying cooler in summer heat.

Don't go overboard on cooling when adjusting temperatures. Setting air to colder than normal doesn't speed up the cooling process and leads to higher expenses.

In winter, you can save more energy by setting low indoor temperatures to slow the rate of heat loss.

You'll see the largest savings in areas with milder climates because of lower levels of heat gain between the inside and outside.

Other recommendations

• Raise indoor temps by 4° F and ceiling fans to stay comfortable
• Set override programs for when you're on vacation or off normal schedules
• Set the thermostat to return to normal temperatures 2 to 3 hours before you wake up
• Install your thermostat away from direct sunlight and furniture to avoid "ghost readings"

Lastly, consider smart thermostats instead of regular digital models. Smart models offer a variety of features to increase home comfort and energy savings. Use their wi-fi features to stay on track of settings with just a couple taps.