The cooler weather is coming – and so are the higher bills for your heating. So, how can you help reduce the crazy costs you pay? Getting a programmable thermostat may be the solution. Installing a thermostat that you can control during all hours of the day can help ensure you use only what you need. You may not realize it, but a lot of forced air, both cold and hot, goes to waste in most homes. According to Energy Star, about 45% of a home’s energy is utilized for heating and cooling, but a large portion of it goes to unoccupied spaces.
Think about the areas in your home that you can keep from using cool or warm air. Do you have spare rooms that are hardly used? A basement with vents that are kept open 24/7? Do you actually keep control of your thermostat while you’re at work or sleeping? Did you know that by doing so, you can be saving money every month? If you want to lower your energy bill, start by lowering your heat. For every 1-degree Fahrenheit that you turn your thermostat down, you use 1% less energy. And there are many instances where you can adjust the number without feeling the effects. For instance, you don’t need as much heat while you sleep at night as you do during the day, and reducing your heat by 10 degrees during those hours could use 10% less energy.
Simple solutions can go a long way, but according to a study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, nearly 90% of Americans say they’ve rarely (or never) programmed their thermostat because they don’t know how. Learn to program your thermostat and start saving today. We’re here to help make sure you have the latest and greatest in the heating and cooling systems you have in your home. At Alves Fuels, we can help you install and teach you how to program your thermostat. We agree with the EPA in that when they’re used correctly, programmable thermostats can save homeowners 10-30% on their energy bills.
There are a variety of elements that can determine how much you’ll save, and you must be determined do what you need to keep your costs down. But with presets for rooms, settings you can control and changes you can easily adjust to, you’ll begin reaping the benefits in no time and start seeing lower prices on your energy bill.
We love serving our local community in Ludlow, Massachusetts and helping our neighbors stay comfortable in their homes while saving money in the process. We’re proud to serve all of Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, Wilbraham, Palmer and nearby towns. Contact us at Alves Fuels so we can be sure you’re set for the winter. We’ll put you in the right direction for the best programmable thermostat for your home – or just teach you how to use the one you have!
