Given our challenging economy, saving money is more important than ever.  Most money saving ideas require an investment up front, so it’s wise to implement ideas where the initial cost can be recovered very quickly.  This leaves little room for excuses not to implement cost saving projects.

A fairly inexpensive suggestion is to install programmable thermostats.  Whether you live in a cold-weather state and need your heat on most of the year, or you live in a warm-weather state like Hawaii and cannot live without air-conditioning, pre-setting your indoor temperatures will save a lot of money.  At the same time, you’ll consume less energy which is good for the environment.

Installing programmable thermostats costs anywhere from $50 to $150, yet the Department of Energy estimates you may save up to 10% a year on heating or cooling bills.  This investment allows you to control temperature throughout the day and night.  For example, you can allow the temperature to rise while you’re at work and cool back down in time for your return home.  The Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) estimates that each degree above 75ºF saves you approximately 3% of the energy used to cool your home.

Don’t forget to shop around and compare prices and deals, as many utility companies offer rebates on high-tech thermostats.

For more information about programmable thermostats, visit the Department of Energy web site.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.