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Key Takeaways
- Thermostat setback refers to adjusting thermostat settings when you are away from home or asleep.
- Smart thermostats automate temperature setbacks, saving energy while maintaining comfort.
- Setting your thermostat back 7-10 degrees from your routine settings for 8 hours a day can help you save up to 10% on your bills.
Managing energy costs can be challenging, but there are surefire ways to reduce them. One smart choice is adjusting your thermostat settings – even small changes can lead to big savings!
Going to be at work all day? Set back your thermostat.
Have a shopping trip planned? Turn down your home temperature.
Or headed out with friends for a small weekend getaway? You guessed it – make adjustments on your thermostat to avoid heating/cooling an empty house.
Over time, these little tweaks will add up to significant savings on your monthly energy bill.
Let’s learn how much savings can be achieved with a thermostat setback.
What Is a Thermostat Setback?
A thermostat setback is a strategy used to reduce energy costs while maintaining a comfortable home environment. The idea behind the process is to use less energy during certain times, such as when you are away or asleep. This can be done manually or through an automated system, depending on the type of thermostat used.
Manually setting back a thermostat requires changing the temperature settings at a set time each day. You can automate these changes using a smart thermostat by setting a schedule.
Thermostat setback also involves keeping your thermostat at a lower temperature in winter and a higher temperature in summer. Since your unit isn’t cycling on/off as often, it helps reduce your energy bills.
How Do Thermostat Setbacks Help Conserve Energy & Lower Your Bills?
Contrary to popular opinion, maintaining a constant temperature throughout the day without any adjustments will not help save energy. In fact, this way, your HVAC system works unnecessarily even when there’s no need, such as when your house is empty.
On the other hand, a temperature setback strategy will reduce how often your heating or cooling units run. When your HVAC isn’t running all day, you not only save on electricity bills but also reduce your carbon footprint. Even reheating or recooling your home would consume less energy than running the unit all day at a consistent temperature.
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Smaller Temperature Difference Reduces Heat Loss or Gain
According to the law of thermodynamics, heat flows from a higher temperature to a lower one. This means that the greater the temperature difference between the outside and inside of your home, the higher the chances of heat loss or heat gain.
If it’s 50°F outside and you have set your thermostat to 80°F, more heat will be lost to the outside, prompting your unit to kick on more often. Similarly, in summer, the cooler your house is, the faster the heat transfers from the outside into your home.
When you set your thermostat back, you reduce heat transfer, so your HVAC won’t need to run as much. If you turn your thermostat down to 70°F, your home will experience minimal heat loss because there is less temperature difference between the inside and outside. Likewise, a higher set temperature in summer will reduce the heat flow from outside into your home, thus saving energy.
How Much Can You Save?
The amount that should be “set back” depends on several variables, including outside temperature, occupancy levels during normal operating hours, and any special conditions, such as humidity requirements in certain rooms.
The Department of Energy estimates that you will save 1% on your bills for every degree you set your thermostat back for 8 hours or more each day. Meaning you can save up to 10% on your yearly heating/cooling costs.
The amount of money saved by implementing this energy-saving strategy can vary widely depending on the size of your home, weather conditions, and usage patterns.
The Best Thermostat Setback Approach
With thermostat setbacks, you may feel like you have to compromise on your comfort to achieve savings. However, the best approach is to schedule setbacks for times when the home isn’t occupied. This eliminates any concerns about discomfort.
For instance, when you are out, you can set your thermostat 7-10 degrees back from your usual settings. You can easily set schedules using a smart thermostat for central units or a smart thermostat for mini-splits in case of ductless systems.
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You can also try turning down your thermostat when you are dozing off. This is referred to as a night setback. A range of 65-68°F is considered the optimal sleeping temperature. Your core body temperature dips in the evening, so lowering the thermostat actually signals the body that it’s time to sleep.
How Can Smart Thermostats Effectively Implement Temperature Setbacks?
Although adjusting your thermostats for different times of the day saves money, it can be forgotten when you’re caught up. Plus, all these adjustments can get on your nerves. A smart thermostat or smart AC controller can make your life much easier by automating your home climate control.
- Rather than spending money to heat or cool an empty house, you can set weekly schedules based on your routine. For instance, turning your HVAC off when you leave for work and turning it back on before you get back. The rest of the time, it’s either off or running at setback temperatures.
- You can also make changes on the go. Won’t be back home on time? Use your phone to set up your unit to continue running on setback temperatures.
- Smart thermostat devices can also detect when you leave the house using the geofencing feature. Once you are out, your HVAC unit automatically makes adjustments to conserve energy. You can set your ‘Away’ temperature settings, which will automatically be implemented upon your departure. It will revert to your at-home settings when you are near your set location.
- Some advanced smart thermostat models can learn your household’s schedule and adjust themselves automatically. For instance, they enter energy-saving mode when they detect no one is home.
Related: Do Smart Thermostats Save Money? – Your Thermostat Energy Saving Guide
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Things to Consider Before Turning Back Your Thermostat
Before you start turning the thermostat back or completely turning off your HVAC when you are out, consider these factors.
- Your comfort should always be your first priority. If setting your thermostat way back is affecting you, try making a 1-degree change each week until your body adjusts. Moreover, you can focus on lowering your temperature when you are away or asleep to avoid discomfort.
- If you have children or the elderly at home who require a specific temperature range, setting a low temperature in the colder season and a higher one in summer may not work for you.
- Another top concern is extreme temperatures that can affect your home. For example, frigid weather can cause frozen pipes if your HVAC is left off for extended periods. In this case, the best solution is to use freeze protection mode. In this mode, your HVAC runs at low power, preventing your home temperature from falling below freezing.
- In summer, high humidity is a significant concern. Letting your house drift way below your usual temperature range may not be ideal. Prolonged periods of high humidity lead to mold, mildew, and fungal growth, leading to poor indoor air quality. For this reason, it is not advisable to completely turn off your HVAC. Instead, the best way is to set a temperature closer to the outside temperature so your unit continues to remove humidity while consuming minimum power.
Related: Ultimate Guide to Achieving the Ideal Home Humidity Levels!
Turning Back Temperature Settings for Savings
Although it may seem like a small change, setting your thermostat back just a few degrees can make a big difference in your energy costs. In this technique, you set your thermostat to a specific temperature before leaving for the day or going to bed, and when you return home or wake up, you set it back to your usual settings. This reduces your household’s overall energy consumption. A 7-10-degree adjustment has been proven to be one of the best ways to achieve your energy-saving goal. In addition, using smart thermostats is one of the most effective ways to address setbacks, as these devices can automatically apply your settings without you having to make manual adjustments every now and then.
