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Proper Thermostat And Fan Use

Set & Save

Whether your goal is to save money or to save the environment through energy-conservation, properly using a ceiling fan and programmable thermostat can help.

WINTER

Winter - Blade Rotation Clockwise - 15% Potential savings for lowering your thermostat 4 degrees.

A Degree Of Savings

The average heating bill this season will be $1,182! (EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook 8/08).

Use a ceiling fan to save energy on heating bills by setting it at a low speed in a clockwise rotation. This mixes the warm air trapped at the ceiling with cooler air at the bottom of the room - warming up the living space.

You can save nearly one percent for each degree you lower your thermostat over an eight hour period!

Winter settings for your programmable thermostat:

Thermostat Setting - Wake, 6:00am set to 70 or less; Day, 8:00am set to 62 or less; Evening, 6:00pm set to 70 or less; Sleep, 10:00pm set to 62 or less

Dress for More

A secret to additional energy savings can be found in your closet. Before reaching to crank up the heat, try adding extra layers of clothing for warmth. Sweaters, pants and socks will help you keep your thermostat at a lower temperature while maintaining comfort.

Fact

The majority of U.S. homes are heated with natural gas (58.3 million). If only half of these homes (29.15 m) reduced their energy use by 10% this winter - it would be the equivalent of taking more than 16,000 cars off the road for an entire year! (According to information and equations provided by EIA and EPA.)

SUMMER

Summer - Blade Rotation Counter Clockwise - 82 degree thermostat setting feels like 76 degree

Comfort With Savings

The wind chill created by ceiling fans presents an opportunity for you to raise your thermostat setting and reduce your energy use without losing comfort.

Studies show that most people can adjust their thermostat as high as 82 degrees Fahrenheit and feel just as cool as if the temperature was set at 76 with no fan running.

But remember, ceiling fans cool people, not rooms. So turn them off to save energy when no one is in the room.

Summer settings for your programmable thermostat:

Thermostat Settings - Wake, 6:00am set to 78 or higher; Day, 8:00am set to 85 or higher; Evening, 6:00pm set to 78 or higher; Sleep, 10:00pm set to 82 or higher

Why You Really Should Plant a Tree

Shading your home from the sun will also cut down on energy use. Awnings and blinds keep sunlight from entering your home. Well-placed trees and bushes can reduce the energy a home uses for cooling by up to 25 percent! (DOE)

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