The thermostat settings inside a home play a very important role in the amount of energy also known as power used in the house and the bills that are hence incurred there from. Explaining the realia of the article, one can state that it focuses on the aspect of should you turn your thermostat up when you leave with the focus on energy conservatism and possibilities to save money.
Warm Up to Thermostat Settings and Energy Efficiency
HVAC systems are managed by thermostats which keeps internal temperatures of homes constant and at the desired comfort levels. As a matter of fact control of the thermostats are often made when one is away from home yet this can be used to regulate the best usage of energy needed without compromising on comfort.
How Thermostats Work
Indoor temperature is sensed by thermostats that convey the information to heating or cooling system to switch on depending on programmed values. Today’s models include those with schedules, which may help the homeowners set particular temperatures for specific hours of the day.
Energy Consumption Impact
Heating and cooling normally consume a large amount of power or energy in a building particularly in homes. The U.S Department of Energy has it that consumers can save as much as 10% of their energy bills in a year by simply tweaking with the thermostat and keeping it 7-10 degrees F higher or lower for 8 hours daily.
Advantages of turning your AC up when you leave and down when you get home.
Energy Savings
A common reason to change docket your thermostat when leaving home includes conserving energy and therefore minimizing the money that you spend on bills. The common solution of turning down the thermostat a few degrees in the summer and vice versa during the winter while no one is at home can save energy.
Extended HVAC System Lifespan
Minimizing the amount of stress that your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit undergoes will in the long run also help to extend its life span. As a result, systems that operate less often will be less likely to experience a wear and tear in parts, possibly resulting in lesser expenses in maintenance and repairs.
Environmental Impact
Reducing energy utilization that is required in maintaining home temperatures is in line with environmental preservation. Through using minimal energy, the homeowners assist in minimization of green house gases and conservation of natural resources.
Things to Ponder over in an effort to bring about Change in Thermostat.
Indoor Comfort
Although energy conservation is important, it is paramount that it is done optimally while deploying the comfort preferences indoors. Point being, while some house owners may want to sustain their indoor environment slightly warmer or cooler to accommodative for the pets or to avoid the indoor high humidity.
Programmable Thermostats
It is for this reason you should consider buying programmable thermostat since it relieves you of the task of adjusting the temperatures according to the activities of the day. Automatically controlled thermostats make it possible to set temperatures in advance meaning you are comfortable when you are at home, and energy is saved when you are away.
It is pertinent in this regard to define some of the best practices that relate to thermostat adjustment.
Before Leaving Home
Set a Reasonable Temperature: Reduce the thermostat on your heating and air system to a temperature that will not consume too much energy but at the same time keep the house warm.
Use Fans: They can move air around and give a cooling breeze especially if used with a light cloth on top of it to cover the light bulb, this helps to make the room bearable if you set the thermostat to a little higher in summer or the opposite in winter.
When Leaving Home
Raise the Temperature: Turn thermostat up 7-10° F. higher in summer or turn it down in winter if you won’t be home for several hours. The name of the game is to preserve energy and therefore less demand for heating or cooling the house.
Upon Returning Home
Adjust Settings Gradually: Also while exiting the premises, should do it gently by either increasing or decreasing the temperature in the house so as not to exert pressure in the heating and cooling system.
Possible Recommendations to Increase the Efficiency of the Thermostat
1. Regular HVAC Maintenance
Twice a year would be appropriate for general checkups for the HVAC system to work correctly. This includes cleaning of the filters, the ducts and proper checking of the system hardware for signs of tear and wear.
2. Home Weatherization
Use weather stripping to reduce the amount of heated or cooled air from leaking through door and window seals, increasing the comfort level and efficiency of a house.
3. Natural Ventilation and Shade should also be used.
Ventilate your house during cooler times of the day, or at night, instead of frequent use of the air-conditioning system. During the day, put-up curtains or blinds that limit the inflow of direct sunlight and consequently, limit the need for cooling.
Conclusion
One of the many choices that a person has to make is whether to set one’s thermostat higher or lower when leaving a house. Through moderations of temperature and use of energy efficient measures, one can regulate heating and cooling costs and encourage the appropriate use of energy.
Therefore, it can be deemed that learning to regulate your thermostat before leaving home is one of the most effective ways of managing energy consumption and, consequently, insulating yourself from the possibility of regarding excessive expenses on utilities as a norm. Various factors influencing the indoor comfort have to be taken into consideration and the incorporation of energy saving measures allow providing comfortable living conditions as well as contributing to the conservation of the environment and reduction of long-term costs.
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