How a New Thermostat Can Improve Energy Efficiency
There are many reasons to upgrade your thermostat, like age, not working as well as it used to, and others. However, here’s one that you might not have considered: newer thermostats improve energy efficiency over older models.
Let’s look at how newer models of thermostats work more efficiently than their predecessors and how they can save you money by lowering your monthly energy bill.
Smart Thermostats Offer Precision
Many new thermostats are “smart” models, which means they have additional programming functions and capabilities that set them apart from their traditional counterparts. They’re usually controlled through WiFi-enabled smartphone apps or touchscreens installed in the home.
These smart thermostats offer several upgrades, like precision. On many older models, the thermostat is set to a range of temperatures (like “between 60 and 65 degrees”). With smart models, you can set it to 63 degrees. If the device runs at 63 instead of 65, you’ll use less energy and save money on your bill.
Programming Options on New Thermostats
Another great option they provide is the ability to program your thermostat or, in some cases, even control it remotely from your phone app. Here’s an example of how programming can lead to increased energy efficiency and a lower bill:
Let’s imagine a family of four living in Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Smith work 9-5 jobs on weekdays, and their two children attend high school during the day and work afternoons until their parents come to pick them up. Including commute times, this means that the Smiths’ home is unoccupied for at least eight or nine hours at a time for five days of the week.
Depending on the type of new thermostat they choose, they can program their home’s HVAC system to turn off while nobody’s home. The thermostat may also have sensors that turn off the HVAC automatically when the house is empty. That’s 40 hours a week they’re no longer paying to heat a completely empty home.
During the winter months, they can also program the thermostat to turn on half an hour before they get home, so they aren’t walking into a chilly house and have to leave their jackets on until it heats up. This way, they don’t have to sacrifice comfort for affordability.
Season-Specific Settings
Speaking of programming, you can also change season-specific settings on a new thermostat that can also lower your costs while increasing energy efficiency. Have you heard the old saying, “Set your thermostat to 80 degrees in the summer and 60 degrees in the winter to save on energy”?
It’s a nice thought and a very energy-efficient way to set a thermostat, but most people don’t want the inside of their home to be 80 degrees in July. However, you can change the temperature based on the season by a few degrees higher in the summer and lower in the winter, and save money as well.
Let’s say you normally set the temperature to 65 in the summer. If you slightly increase the setting to 70 degrees, your thermostat won’t need to work as hard to get the room down to a reasonable temperature. This saves money, reduces the workload on your HVAC system, and increases the device’s lifespan.
How Much Money Do Smart Thermostats Really Save?
Now that we’ve discussed a few ways that smart thermostats save money, let’s talk about how much money they can save. According to the United States Department of Energy, roughly 43% of the average home’s utility costs are HVAC-related.
DoE also states that reducing your thermostat temperature 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours every day can result in a 10% reduction in your home’s heating and cooling costs.
Let’s imagine another scenario to help put this into perspective. Let’s say a family typically pays $300 a month in utility bills. One day, they decide to upgrade to new thermostats with programmable temperatures, seasonal adjustments, and more precise settings.
They program the thermostat to automatically lower the temperature while everyone’s at work or school, and from midnight to 5 AM while everyone’s asleep. As a result, their $300 monthly utility bill decreases by 15% and they now pay $255 every month. That’s a savings of over $500 per year, all by upgrading their thermostat to a newer model.
Upgrade Your Thermostat in Birmingham, Alabama with One Hour Heating and Cooling
A new smart thermostat can save you hundreds of dollars on your energy bill every year with its precision, programmability, seasonal adjustments, and empty home detection sensors. Instead of paying to heat or cool your home while nobody’s home, you can program your thermostat to automatically change the temperature according to your schedule, which saves you money.
If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s thermostat in Birmingham, Alabama, or the surrounding areas, call Birmingham One Hour Heating and Cooling. Our experts can solve all of your home’s heating and cooling needs, including installing upgraded thermostats that will improve your home’s energy efficiency and lower your monthly utility bills.
At Birmingham One Hour Heating and Cooling, we value your time. That’s why we’ll never tell you that we’ll “show up when we get around to you” or “we’ll get there when we get there”. Unlike the other guys, if we’re not on time, you don’t pay a dime! We’ll show up when your appointment is scheduled and pick up our mess behind us on the way out.
We’ve helped thousands of people near you upgrade their thermostats, and we can’t wait to add you to our list of satisfied customers. Set up your appointment with One Hour Heating and Cooling today!
