Take control of your thermostat
You can save some money now, even without replacing your thermostat
Heating prices are rising as temperatures drop this winter, but you can combat these higher prices. Here are a few ways you can save some energy with adjustments to your current heating system's thermostat.
- Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable. Turning down the thermostat from 70 F to 65 F, for example, could help you save about 10 percent on heating costs. Setting your thermostat back 10 F for 8 hours at night can help save about 7 percent. You'll also save if you set it back when you're not at home.
- Close doors and heating vents to unused rooms in your home. If these rooms have a separate thermostat or heating zone from your home's occupied space, lower the temperature in these rooms.
- Consider purchasing and installing an automatic and programmable thermostat, if you haven't already -- from the Department of Energy
For more information on choosing a thermostat, see TheOld House Web story on thermostats.
