A key advantage of a programmable thermostat is that you can lower the level of heat or air conditioning when everyone’s away from home or asleep, and create a comfortable and affordable temperature inside your home. The device allows you the control to change temperatures to preset levels corresponding to your family’s schedule.
These units—available for gas and oil furnace systems and heat pumps—are sold at home centers, hardware stores and online. Our best advice is to choose an Energy Star-rated device to guarantee it’s an energy efficient product. Check out the “energy efficient products” section at www.energystar.gov for buying advice and suggestions about how to operate a programmable thermostat most effectively.
