Programmable Thermostats
Programmable thermostats offer a significant opportunity to save on heating costs versus conventional thermostats.
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Programmable Thermostats
Programmable thermostats offer a significant opportunity to save on heating costs versus conventional thermostats. A conventional thermostat regulates the temperature of a room at a single level. If the temperature falls below the setting, the heat cuts in. If the temperature is above the setting, the heat cuts out.
A programmable thermostat is different because it contains an electronic clock. It can automatically turn down the temperature setting at night when you're asleep, or during the day when you're at work. It can also return the temperature to a more comfortable level before you wake up in the morning or arrive home. That way, you can save energy while you're sleeping or away from home, without the discomfort of having to wait for the house to heat up again.
Setting a temperature back by even 2°C will generate savings and cause no adverse impacts to your home. However, research has found that turning the temperature back by as much as 6°C in some households could lead to excessive moisture as cold air has a higher humidity level than warm air. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation recommends trying out different temperature settings to see how your house performs.
Available Program
Under the takeCHARGE program, you may be able to get $10 for every programmable thermostat you install or $5 for every electronic thermostat. For more information, visit the takeCHARGE website.
In this section
Electric Baseboard Heaters
Oil-Fired Furnaces
Wood Stoves
Heat Pumps
Programmable Thermostats