If you lower your thermostat by 7-10 degrees for just 8 hours a day, you can save up to 10% in energy costs. The government estimates these average savings come out to a discount of around $180 per year on your electric bills. If you and your family are out of the house during the school and work day anyway, you’ll barely notice. Or, make the adjustment at nighttime, grab a sweater or an extra blanket, and get cozy.
The same goes for air conditioning: set the thermostat a few degrees higher during the hours when you know you’ll be out, and use a fan to cool off later. If you have the type of air conditioner that fits into your window, make sure to keep it very clean so that it runs as efficiently as possible.
If you don’t have a programmable thermostat already, you can purchase one for as little as $25 at the hardware store. It will make adjusting the temp a snap – you can just set it, and forget it.
Go ahead – touch that dial! A few degrees won’t make a big difference in your home, but it will definitely make a big difference to your savings.
