Whether you’re buying firewood or paying for propane, you’d
probably like to cut your heating costs. And University of
Georgia
experts say installing a digital thermostat is a quick, easy way
to do it.

"You can cut your heating costs by as much as 20 percent
by lowering your home’s thermostat 5 degrees at night before you
go to bed and 10 degrees during the day when no one is
home,"
said Michael Rupured. He’s an Extension Service financial
management
specialist with the UGA College of Family and Consumer
Sciences.

Remembering is the Key

Lowering your thermostat sounds easy. But in today’s busy
world,
this simple task isn’t so simple.

"Remembering to do this every day is a challenge, which
is why you should consider purchasing a programmable, or setback,
thermostat," Rupured said. "The initial investment of
less than $60 could save you hundreds of dollars in the long
run."

A setback thermostat lets you program the temperature in your
home to suit your needs.

"If you plan to be out of town for the weekend,"
he said, "you can program your thermostat to reduce the
temperature
when you are gone and turn it back up an hour or so before you
arrive home. You can also program the thermostat to turn on
before
you come home from work so you can arrive to find a toasty
house."

Search One That’s Easy to
Program

When shopping for a programmable thermostat, Rupured says to
search for one that’s easy to program.

"You should be able to easily set the clock and change
the start time or temperature for a program period," he
said.
"You should also be able to override the current programmed
temperature by manually changing the setting."

Make sure the digital display is easy to read and understand.
"You need to be able to tell the current time and
temperature
at a glance," Rupured said. "With the press of a
button,
you should also be able to see the temperature you’ve programmed
and the program period in effect."

"Shop around for the best deal," he said. "Home
improvement stores and mass merchandisers carry these products,
so there’s no telling how much you can save on your purchase if
you compare prices."

If you’re replacing an old thermostat in the same location,
you might want to consider hiring a heating/cooling contractor
unless you’re comfortable working with wiring.

A programmable thermostat isn’t just a winter-use product.
The same features that will save you money on your heating bill
will also save you money on your cooling bill this summer.