Interested in cutting home heating fuel consumption--and your heating bill--by 10, 20, even 30 percent? The easiest way is simply to "Turn back the thermostat!" But many folks don't do it. Some feel it's an inconvenience or they just plain forget. Others have heard that it really doesn't save that much money. Still others are concerned about "feeling cold."
To respond to those objections, this little folder presents some facts and figures that you might find interesting. Inside are actual examples of how families like yours have lowered their average household temperatures and what it saved them. Following that is a table showing expected cost differences between different temperature settings, which might just help convince you that "turning back the thermostat" is worth it! Finally, on the back are some tips on how to feel comfortable in a cooler house.
* Family A, which normally kept their house at 70F, decided to lower the thermostat to 65F at night. They saved 5 percent on their fuel bill for the year.
* Everybody in Family B was usually gone from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week; so they decided to use a nighttime setback, which they continued until 4 p.m. on weekdays, but not weekends. The settings were 64F at night and on weekdays until 4 p.m. and 70F weekday evenings and on weekends from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The family realized a 12 percent savings on their annual fuel bill.
* Family C, consisting of two working adults who spent only evenings at home, chose to set the thermostat at 67F for the evening hours and weekend days and 58F at night. To be comfortable in the evening, they wore warmer clothing. Their annual fuel bill savings was 30 percent.
To figure what your Savings might be, read on....
Use this table to estimate what your fuel bill might be if you reduced (or increased) the temperature in your house.
Find your fuel bill at 70F. (If you don't know what it is, have the FACTS home insulation computer program run for you at your county Extension office.) Now you can compare the cost at 70F to the cost at your present average household temperature and to the cost at settings 5 degrees and maybe 10 degrees lower.
Every degree set back (or ahead) from your present heating level makes about a 3 percent difference in your annual fuel bill. So, a 5-degree setback means a 15 percent savings for the year!
Your cost at an If your annual Your cost at an average temperature of: fuel bill average temperature of: ------------------------ ------------------------ 55F 60F 65F at 70F is: 75F 80F 85F --------------------------------------------------------------- $110 $140 $170 $200 $230 $260 $290 165 210 255 300 345 390 435 220 280 340 400 460 520 580 175 350 425 500 575 650 725 330 420 510 600 690 780 870 385 490 595 700 805 910 1015 440 560 680 800 920 1040 1160 395 630 785 900 1015 1170 1305 550 700 850 1000 1150 1300 1450 605 770 935 1100 1165 1430 1595 660 840 1020 1200 1380 1560 1740 715 910 1105 1300 1495 1690 1885 770 980 1190 1400 1610 1820 2030 825 1050 1275 1500 1775 1950 2175 880 1120 1360 1600 1840 2080 2320 935 1190 1445 1700 1955 2110 2465 990 1260 1530 1800 2070 2340 2610 1045 1330 1615 1900 2185 2470 2755 1100 1400 1700 2000 2300 2600 2900 1375 1750 2125 2500 2875 3250 3625 1850 2100 2550 2000 3450 3900 4350 -------------------------------------------------------------
To convert to average temperature if a setback thermostat is used:
Average = (Temp `A' x hr. at `A') + (Temp `B' x hr. at `B') temp. -------------------------------------------------- 24 hr.
To figure average temperature for weekday and weekend temperature differences:
Total avg. = (Temp `1' x days at `1') + (Temp `2 x days at `2') temp. ---------------------------------------------------- 7 days
For example: Family B
Average = (64x18)+(70x6) = 65.5F and temps. --------------- 24 (64x8)+(70x16) = 68F --------------- 24 Total avg. = (65.5 x 5) + (68 x 2) = 66F temp. ---------------------- 7
To still feel comfortable at a lower house temperature, consider doing the following:
Your local Cooperative Extension Service can provide information and assistance on many energy management topics. Contact them with your questions.
New 10/82
This folder was supported by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Grant No. DF-FG45-80CS69096, through the Energy Extension Service Program, Division of Energy Policy, Indiana Department of Commerce, Lt. Gov. John M. Mutz, Director.
Cooperative Extension work in Agriculture and Home Economics, state of Indiana, Purdue University, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating; HA. Wadsworth, Director, West Lafayette. IN. Issued in furtherance of the acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access institution