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Programmable Thermostat

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Programmable thermostats help to save on energy while keeping you comfortable.

I can remember the first day moving into my house growing up as a kid, I was in the second grade and it was February. I noticed the dial type thermostat and thought it's cold I'd much rather wear shorts than long pants.  I decided to turn the temperature to 90 degrees, about 15 minutes later my Dad made comment about it being really hot in the house. To this day a good 15-20 years later that same dial thermostat is there on the wall ready to be turned to 90 degrees.

Modern thermostats, like the programmable one that is in my apartment allow me to set different temperatures for different times of the day. One right as I go to bed, wake up, go to work, and come home from work. On the weekends it is a little less defined but goes along the same principle, I have options and energy saving abilities that my parents dial thermostat doesn't have. 


While I'm away from my apartment the heating system only keeps the temperature set to 60 degrees, a perfect temperature for my dog and to prevent the pipes from freezing during a polar vortex.  This is much less energy usage compared to the 68 that it gets up to when I'm home. For nine hours I'm saving on 8 degrees of energy consumption, while that may not seem like a lot it adds up over the entire heating season.  

My parents can of course set the dial thermostat down to 60 from their desired at home temperature, but they'll never be able to come home to a warm home until they upgrade. This is where energy saving meets comfort, my apartment feels homier when I walk in and feel the heat.

There are different types of programmable thermostats that range from $20 to upwards of $300.  The cheaper ones allow for day/week programming while the more expensive learn when you leave you're home and when you'll return. Honeywell has a WiFi enable programmable thermostat that allows you to change the temperature from an app on your smartphone. These types of programmable thermostats are designed to help ease your life and allow for you save energy without having to think about it.

 Written by:

 Robert Stahelski

 cksmithsuperior, santoro oil, gas doctor
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