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Programmable Thermostat Improvements
With all the energy-saving products on the market today, it may come as a surprise to learn that one of the most effective is a device that’s small enough to hold in your hand.
Programmable thermostats, available at most home improvement and department stores, offer improved comfort, ease of use and short payback times.
Early generation programmable thermostats were, at best, very intimidating. Homeowners who remember the days of hard-to-understand and difficult-to-program thermostats may be reluctant to consider today’s improved models. Back then many folks, frustrated by the complicated new gadgets, would simply press the “hold” button to maintain the higher temperature for the rest of the heating season.
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Early generation programmable thermostats were,
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Fortunately, technology has come a long way since those early days. Today’s programmable thermostats are easy to understand and simple to program. Directions are written in plain language, the controls are intuitive, and there are many models from which to choose.
In the simplest terms, a thermostat is merely a device that turns on a heating system and then turns it off when it senses that a set temperature has been reached. Manual and programmable thermostats accomplish this in much the same way. However, the manual ones will keep doing it over and over again regardless of whether or not the home is occupied. This wastes heating dollars.
Programmable thermostats, on the other hand, can be pre-set to maintain a lower temperature overnight or when no one is home. They will then automatically allow the heat to rise when the desired time is reached. It’s also easy to override the settings to accommodate temporary schedule changes. Many newer programmable thermostats can even be set with different times and temperatures for every day of the week.
For as little as $40, you could be on your way to the added convenience and energy savings of a new programmable thermostat. Be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR label. NSTAR Gas customers can receive a $25 rebate on qualifying models. More information is available by clicking on "Energy Efficiency" in the left-hand side menu above or by calling 800-232-0672.
In my next column, just in time for the coldest days of winter, I’ll discuss more tips that will help folks stay warm and be energy efficient.
Bill Stack is a Residential Program Manager in NSTAR's energy efficiency department. He can be reached by emailing brightideas@nstar.com. If you're a member of the media and would like to arrange an interview with Bill, please call Caroline Allen (617-424-2460) or Mike Durand (508-441-5831).
