Does adjusting your thermostat use more energy?
There’s a common misconception that a furnace must work harder to heat a space from a lower temperature. However, when your house drops below its normal temperature, it loses energy more slowly. With colder winter temperatures, the lower your thermostat temperature (and the slower the heat loss) the more energy you save.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends turning your thermostat down between 7 and 10 degrees for eight hours a day. A few degrees can make a big difference—potentially reducing your annual energy costs by up to 10%!
So while it may be easier to keep your thermostat at a constant, warm temperature all winter long, the environment (and your wallet) will thank you for turning it down a few degrees. Every little bit helps!
For more energy-saving tips on how to program your thermostat all year-round for maximum energy savings, visit Energy.gov.
