The average household spends over $900 yearly on heating and cooling alone. For most households, that is almost half of their entire energy bill. But with the subtropical climate of the southeast, it’s not hard to see why. When you add other electrical appliances, the costs start to go up.
There are several strategies you can use to cut your heating and cooling costs, save money and make your home more energy-efficient. One of those strategies is optimizing your thermostat setting. Smart thermostats have energy-saving features that can help cut your power bill while winning those unending thermostat wars.
There are four categories of thermostats available on the market. Although they all ultimately control your heating and cooling, they differ in the level of comfort and automation they offer.
As the name suggests, you are in charge of manually setting this type of thermostat, and they are more common in older systems. You control the temperature setting to get the ambient temperature you need for your home. The analog models usually have a control dial, while the digital models have buttons and an LED screen. Manual thermostats are more affordable up front, but may not be the best option for energy efficiency or long-term cost savings.
A programmable thermostat allows you to set a schedule to adjust the temperature based on the time of day or the day of the week. For example, you might set your air conditioning to a lower temperature on the weekends when you’re more likely to be home, with higher temperatures on the weekdays while you’re at work. You can also adjust it based on time, heating the home to a higher temperature during the night when it tends to be cooler outside. This level of control offers homeowners a simple way to save on their energy bills.
A Wi-Fi thermostat offers the same automation as programmable thermostats, with the added benefit of remote control. You can control your thermostat from any smart device, whether at home or away. Although these systems don’t automatically adjust temperature without your programming, the remote feature means you can manually adjust heating or cooling levels before you even get home.
The smart thermostat has the dual benefits of a programmable and Wi-Fi thermostat, with the added benefit of pattern recognition. Most smart thermostats can learn and replicate your regular heating and cooling habits and replicate them autonomously. Instead of relying solely on your settings, it will recognize your preferences and create a schedule based on them over time.
Beyond your habits and settings, a smart thermostat can adjust settings based on weather forecasts. Some systems also feature geofencing technology, meaning it can change settings according to your proximity to the house. With system monitoring capabilities, your smart thermostat can alert you when it is time for air conditioning maintenance or when your heating system requires repairs. It can also integrate with your home’s smart system, allowing for voice control.
A smart thermostat can reduce energy bills in the long term. Although it may have the highest upfront costs, it offers the most flexibility and potential cost savings.
With rising energy costs, many homeowners are looking for ways to save on their energy bills — the good news is that you don’t need to be uncomfortable in your home to save money. The best setting for your home depends on your comfort levels and the climate. The Southeast tends to have hot, muggy summers, so cooling costs will be higher in that season.
According to the Department of Energy, the right thermostat settings can save you up to 10% on your energy bill by setting your thermostat back seven to 10 degrees while you’re not home. It will take a bit of trial and error to get to the right temperature settings when you’re away from home, but consider these seasonal settings as a starting point:
If you are going away on vacation or your home will be empty for several days, you can adjust your settings even further. However, it’s important not to turn your system off entirely, as that could lead to complications ranging from mold growth to frozen pipes.
You can also choose different thermostat settings for nighttime to increase your energy savings. Experts suggest your body needs a room temperature of 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal sleep, which most closely resembles your internal regulation.
Another consideration is age. Infants and older adults require a warmer room environment for better sleep, so you may need to adjust the temperature if you have either in your household.
It takes a few simple steps to set your energy-saving thermostat schedule:
Although these settings apply to every type of thermostat, manual thermostat owners will have to physically change the settings. The lack of automation means that before you leave or sleep, you will have to remember to program your thermostat and do the same when you get home or wake up.
Misconceptions about programming thermostat settings can hinder your energy savings. The following thermostat myths have been debunked:
Some homeowners believe you need to increase settings drastically in winter and do the reverse in summer to get your optimal temperature. However, this strategy may cost you more in the long run. In the winter, you want to keep your home’s temperature lower to reduce the rate of heat loss to its surroundings. The scientific term for it is diffusion — in nature, energy will always flow from an area of high concentration to one of low concentration until equilibrium is reached. The hotter you make your home in winter, the faster the heat will transfer to the outside, demanding constant heating.
The same is true for summer. If you drastically lower your home’s temperature, it will lose energy faster to the Southeastern heat. It may even result in overcooling, which will not be kind to your power bill.
Although this seems reasonable, it can increase your bill in the long run. Turning off your thermostat is a good strategy if you will be away from home for several weeks or months. But if you will be gone for a few days, consider keeping your thermostat on. If your home has a humidity problem, turning off your thermostat can result in mold growth on your furniture. And it may take significant energy to restore ambient temperature when you return.
Skipping maintenance may offer short-term benefits of money in your pocket, but it can be costly down the line. A comprehensive preventive maintenance service is designed to help you get ahead of repairs and keep your system healthy. A malfunctioning system will work harder to achieve daily functions, requiring more energy. Even when you have optimized your thermostat settings to lower your utility bill, you may not see those savings if your system needs repairs.
Here are additional steps you can take to increase your home’s energy efficiency for all seasons:
Leaks can let unwanted air into your space, limiting the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems. Using the right sealing techniques can help you ensure ambient temperatures across seasons. Start by checking your doors and windows. Leaks usually take advantage of the openings already present in the home. Inspect your weather strips and determine if they need replacing. If you notice signs of wear, it is time for a replacement. Also, consider draft blockers around your doors to keep the air out.
Did you know ceiling fans are an asset all year long? Their limited energy use makes them a great addition to your home’s system. Keep them rotating anticlockwise in the summer. However, remember to turn your fans off when you leave the room. Fans are not air conditioners, so they won’t necessarily cool the room. They work through the wind chill effect to evaporate sweat from your body faster, lowering internal temperature. This effect is what makes you feel cooler.
However, change the direction clockwise in winter and enjoy warmer air flow. By changing the direction, the fan will force the warmer air down, making the room feel hotter.
Using screens and shade on your windows in the summer can help reduce the amount of heat coming into your home. The shading can keep your space cooler, meaning less energy is needed to cool your home. In winter, remove any shading from your windows during the day to let the heat in, especially if you have north-facing windows. But before the sun sets, remember to close the drapes and lower the blinds to minimize heat escape.
You can also use humidifiers to reduce energy consumption in the winter. Humidifiers help increase the moisture content in the air. Moist air loses heat more slowly than dry air, making your home warmer.
Another tip to help you maximize your home’s energy efficiency is to be mindful of your layers. Add a few more layers in the winter, even around the house, to feel warmer in the lower temperatures. When it’s summer, remove a few more layers to help reduce the need for excessive cooling.
If you have some questions about thermostat settings, we have you covered:
The right thermostat settings can help you reduce your energy bill while maintaining a comfortable temperature within your home. However, optimizing your thermostat settings will not increase energy savings if your heating and cooling system is malfunctioning.
Strada Air Conditioning & Heating offers robust maintenance and repair services to ensure your system functions at its best year-round. With our easy online scheduling tool, you can book a maintenance appointment in minutes or get a quote and start saving on your energy bill.
Joe Strada, owner of Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning, started working at the young age of 14. He’s never attended college, but he has spent his life dedicating his time and energy to his trade and providing high-quality services to his customers. At 19, Joe started working at a well-known air conditioning company and developing his commitment to excellence. He has state certifications in electric, plumbing, air conditioning, residential building and general contracting. During his years of training and experience, Joe noticed a sincere need for a dependable electrical contractor in Florida who embodied the same dedication to customer service in which he believed. In 2003, Joe co-founded Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning. Since then, the company has been in the business of providing peace of mind to customers. We offer expert electric, security and air conditioning solutions for homes and businesses, leveraging our experience to deliver professional and responsive service with reliability and respect.
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