How The Right Thermostat Can Save You Money
There are all types of thermostat options out there today but they can all be fit into 3 basic categories:
- Non-Programmable Thermostats
- Programmable Thermostat
- Smart Thermostats
You may not know, but the type of thermostat you have makes a huge difference in the performance and energy efficiency of your air conditioning equipment.
Our New York air conditioning company wants to help you choose the right thermostat which can actually save you some money.
Non-Programmable Thermostats
A Non-Programmable Thermostat has a simple On or Off setting. The main problem with these is the old technology used in older styles.
The thermostat types with mechanical parts or mercury are not reliably accurate, so they won't do anything for the energy efficiency of your heating and air conditioning equipment.
Programmable Thermostats
A programmable thermostat is a Thermostat which is designed to adjust the temperature according to a series of programmed settings that take effect at different times of the day. Heating and cooling losses from a building (or any other container) become greater as the difference in temperature increases.
A programmable thermostat allows reduction of these losses by allowing the temperature difference to be reduced at times when the reduced amount of heating or cooling would not be objectionable.
For example, during the cooling season, a programmable thermostat used in a home may be set to allow the temperature in the house to rise during the workday when no one will be at home.
It may then be set to turn on the air conditioning before the arrival of occupants, allowing the house to be cool upon the arrival of the occupants while still having saved air conditioning energy during the peak outdoor temperatures.
The reduced cooling required during the day also decreases the demands placed upon the electrical supply grid.
Conversely, during the heating season, the programmable thermostat may be set to allow the temperature in the house to drop when the house is unoccupied during the day and also at night after all occupants have gone to bed.
This re-heats the house prior to the occupants arriving home in the evening or waking up in the morning.
Since most people sleep better when a room is cooler and the temperature differential between the interior and exterior of a building will be greatest on a cold winter night, this reduces energy losses.
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats allow the user to control the temperature of their home throughout the day using a schedule, such as setting a lower temperature at night.
Since they are connected to the Internet, the user can monitor and adjust heating settings from other internet-connected devices, such as SmartPhones. This allows you to easily switch off the heating or air conditioning when the house is empty.
Some smart thermostats can automatically learn when the house is likely to be occupied and when it is likely to be empty. This allows it to automatically pre-heat or pre-cool the house so that it’s at a comfortable temperature when a resident arrives.
If the residents' lifestyle changes, these smart thermostats will gradually adjust the schedule, maintaining energy savings and comfort.
When it comes to energy savings, New York Heating and Air Conditioning recommend a Programmable or Smart Thermostat. Take a look at the Smart Thermostats offered by Lennox.
