The Secret to Programming Your Thermostat the Right Way for Each Season

According to a study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, nearly 90% of Americans say theyve rarely (or never) programmed their thermostat because theyre not sure how to do it.

But its really not that hard, and its definitely worth doing because it can save at least 10% a year on heating and cooling costs.

The U.S. Department of Energy says you can achieve that 10% by turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees F from its normal setting for 8 hours a day.

The first step is to pick the thermostat that best suits your scheduling needs so you can set it and forget it, an approach the Energy Department advocates to get the most savings.

Pick the Right Thermostat

There are four types of programmable thermostats, each with a distinctive scheduling style:

7-day programming. Best for individuals or families with erratic schedules, since this is the most flexible option. It lets you program a different heating/cooling schedule for each day of the week.

5-1-1 programming. One heating/cooling schedule for the week, plus you can schedule a different heating/cooling plan for Saturday and Sunday.

5-2 programming. Same as 5-1-1 programming, except Saturday and Sunday will have the same heating/cooling plan.

1-week programming. You can only set one heating/cooling plan that will be repeated daily for the entire week.

Youll need a program for both the cooler months and the warmer months.

TIP: Before buying a programmable thermostat, identify the type of equipment used to heat and cool your home so you can check for compatibility. For example, do you have central heating and cooling, or just a furnace or baseboard heating? Otherwise, you may not reap the rewards of energy savings and may risk harming your heating and cooling equipment.

Change the Factory Settings

Most programmable thermostats have a pre-programmed setting thats supposed to be for the typical American family. But what family is typical these days? You need to adjust the thermostats settings so its in sync with the life you and your family lead instead of some mythical family.

Programming options are based on:

• Wake Time

• Sleep Time

• Leave Time

• Return Time

The Department of Energy suggests the following settings as an energy-saving rule of thumb:

Winter months:

• For the hours youre home and awake, program the temp to 68?F.

• Lower at least 10 degrees for the hours youre asleep or out of the house.

Summer months:

• For the hours youre home, program air conditioning to 78?F.

• For the days you dont need cooling, manually shut off the AC. Keep in mind, it will kick back on if the house gets too warm.

• Program it to be warmer than usual when youre out of the house.

Here are a few programming timing tips that can help you create the best set-it-and-forget-it heating and cooling schedule for your home:

• Shut down heat or air conditioning 20 to 30 minutes before you leave home each day.

• Turn on heat or air conditioning 20 to 30 minutes before you come home each day.

• Reduce the heating or cooling 60 minutes before you go to sleep each night.

• Increase heating or cooling about 30 minutes before you wake up each morning.

• Spend time tweaking your program for a few days to make sure it feels right.

TIP: With a Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat, you can control your homes temperature while on the go. That way, youre not wasting energy if youre running late or forgot to create a new program before going on vacation.

FYI: A furnace does NOT have to work harder to warm a house after the temperature has been set low during the day.

Use a Wifi Thermostat to Make It Super Easy

Want something thats simpler? Newer more high-tech models have simplified the process:

The Nest Learning Thermostat: It creates a custom heating and cooling schedule for your home based on motion detection technology. Plus since it is Wi-Fi, it can be controlled remotely. Price: Usually a bit more than 200.

Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat: This device makes it easy to create a custom heating and cooling plan. Unlike conventional programmable thermostats, it has a large color interface that displays a simple menu that walks you through all the programming steps. It also learns your home and will send you personal notifications if the temperature is not right, or if theres a power outage. Price: Usually under 200.

FYI: Thermostats made prior to 2001 may contain mercury. To see if your programmable thermostat contains mercury, check with the manufacturer. If you decide to dispose of a thermostat that contains mercury, check out how to do so safely in your area at Thermostat Recycling Corp. (Not sure why mercury is so bad? Heres the skinny: Its toxic and it never breaks down. When it enters the waste stream, it permanently damages the ecosystem.)