Full Answer
What is a temperature setback?
The same premise would apply for the winter operation where the device would cycle the heating equipment on when the home temperature drops below set-point and off when it rises above it. A temperature setback is a simple strategy to help save utility cost by reducing how often your heating or cooling system operates.
How does a common dial thermostat work?
A common dial type thermostat that is installed in many homes controls the equipment to maintain a single temperature. For example if the thermostat is set at 75 degrees in the summer, the device will activate the cooling system when the temperature rises above this setpoint.
What happens when you adjust the thermostat in Your House?
This is achieved by allowing the temperature in a home to drift to a lower (heating mode) or higher (cooling mode) temperature. Adjusting your thermostat can reduce how often your furnace or air conditioning unit runs resulting in lower utility cost.
What happens when the thermostat is set at 75 degrees?
For example if the thermostat is set at 75 degrees in the summer, the device will activate the cooling system when the temperature rises above this setpoint. When the temperature drops below the set-point, the cooling equipment will cycle off.
The Analysis
We compared energy usage of homes that did not set back their thermostat to those that set the thermostat back by 1° to 9° over an 8-hour period throughout the day. We decided to look at HVAC runtime and usage for homes.
The Results
When comparing the amount of energy required to maintain the temperature of a home at 70°, as opposed to the amount of energy needed to heat a house backup after the setback, the results were clear. The data showed that houses that reduced the temperature of their home 1° compared to those that didn’t, saved 4.50% on energy.
How does a thermostat setback help?
A temperature setback is a simple strategy to help save utility cost by reducing how often your heating or cooling system operates. This is achieved by allowing the temperature in a home to drift to a lower (heating mode) or higher (cooling mode) temperature. Adjusting your thermostat can reduce how often your furnace or air conditioning unit runs resulting in lower utility cost.
How much energy savings can you make by setting back your thermostat?
To help quantify this savings, a general rule of thumb can be used to approximate the savings. According to the US Department of Energy, it is estimated that 1% energy savings can be achieved for every 1 degree setback for an 8 hour period. One day of setting back will not achieve any significant results. To see the suggested savings presented by the USDOE, the setback needs to occur on a daily basis. The same results can be approximated for setting forward (letting the home get warm in the summer). So if you can allow the home to drift down 5 degrees at night during the winter for 8 hours – there is potential of 5% savings on your utility bills. Of course every house is different so the potential savings will vary from home to home.
How does a thermostat work?
Most homes are controlled through a wall mounted thermostat. This device allows the resident to control the heating / cooling equipment so that it maintains a desired space temperature. A common dial type thermostat that is installed in many homes controls the equipment to maintain a single temperature. For example if the thermostat is set at 75 degrees in the summer, the device will activate the cooling system when the temperature rises above this setpoint. When the temperature drops below the set-point, the cooling equipment will cycle off. The same premise would apply for the winter operation where the device would cycle the heating equipment on when the home temperature drops below set-point and off when it rises above it.
How much does a programmable thermostat cost?
A new programmable thermostat can cost around $40-$50 and are not overly difficult to install by most home owners. Setting up a programmable thermostat is not always simple. The instruction manual is a necessity to get things set up appropriately.
When should a setback feature be switched back to normal?
Ideally, the heating and cooling system should recover prior to when the residents wake up or get home. The amount of time to achieve this can vary dramatically.
What happens if you don't have a programmable thermostat?
If you do not have a programmable thermostat, a lot of diligence is needed to adjust the thermostat everyday to achieve this benefit. In addition, with a manual thermostat you do not have the benefit of having the cooling / heating system recover automatically before everyone awakes or gets home.
