Electricity bill prices are quite high, and they give nightmares to the consumers. While we have a horde of technologies available to reduce energy consumption, they have not made an effective difference in dropping the figures of the bill.
So, what is the solution to the soaring bills that may act as a panacea for consumers who are paying through their nose on energy bills? Is there a real and effective remedy to minimize energy spending?
Well, programmable thermostats are the answer to that. Consumers are being increasingly advised to install a programmable thermostat at home to decrease energy consumption and save as much as 10 to 30% on their energy bills.
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What is a programmable thermostat?
A programmable thermostat is a device that automatically examines and modifies the temperature of your home depending upon the temperature settings you have stored in it.
So, a programmable thermostat will change the temperature according to your preferences. If you want a high temperature in the morning or a low temperature at night, it will adjust it mechanically.
How does it work?
Smart thermostats effectuate energy savings than regular programmable thermostats. Smart thermostats work on the basis of the temperature information that you feed in. You also have to enter the schedule during which you need the desired temperature.
Typically, thermostats facilitate money savings by keeping low temperatures for a longer period of time. Based on the details that you have stored; the thermostat ensures maintaining the pre-schedule temperature when you come home.
img source: imall.comReduction on wastage of money and energy
The most important benefit of installing a programmable thermostat at home is that you will cut down on those soaring electricity bills. Programmable thermostats are being increasingly utilized to scale down energy wastage.
Energy Star explained that almost 45% of the energy at home goes into heating and cooling and that makes up for the costs to the tune of $2,100-$2,500 every year. What is more saddening is that this energy heats or cools the unoccupied spaces of your home.
By installing programmable thermostats, you can set the temperature to a point where you feel comfortable. When you use such thermostats to increase or decrease the temperature in winters or summers; each rise or drop in the degree enables you to save 2% on your utility bills.
You can program the thermostat to a particular schedule e.g. when you are sleeping or no at home. The thermostat will function at a temperature you are comfortable with. Thus, it lowers down your consumption during the periods when you don’t need a temperature fix.
Maintaining an optimal and consistent temperature
Not only does a programmable thermostat save money but it maintains a consistent temperature and eases the wrath of seasonal changes. For instance, during scorching summers you have to lower your air conditioner’s temperature to ease off the heat and in winters you have to raise the heater’s temperature to soar levels to beat the cold.
But not anymore! Due to the ability of a programmable thermostat to maintain a consistent temperature, your home stays as warm or as cold as you have set the programmed temperature schedule.
Consumers must follow that the ideal temperature to schedule your programmable thermostat is about 20 degrees Celsius when you are at home. Set it to about 6-8 degrees Celsius when you are asleep or not at home. During summers the ideal temperature is 26° C and a little over when you are away.
If the temperature has reached a certain level pre-scheduled by the user, then a heat sensitive switch will switch off the heating or cooling system and maintain the temperature.
Some of the robust thermostat technologies available in the market can now juggle to maintain alternate heating or cooling temperature depending on the daytime or even seasonal changes. This alternate heating technology alone saves approximately 33% on heating costs and up to 10-20% on cooling.
Final Take
All in all, the savings and reduction in energy consumption will depend and vary according to your needs and size of the family. There is no straight jacket formula to follow and get a concrete fall in your electricity bills.
Money savings and a comfortable atmosphere at home will also dispense with any uneasy living atmosphere. There are no ills of using a programmable thermostat and you will see pragmatic results over a period of time.