In 1906, a young engineer named Mark Honeywell saw an opportunity in the business of Albert Butz. Butz had invented the modern home thermostat, the remote device that, when the home’s temperature dropped below a certain point, lifted a flap on the furnace, allowing it to burn hotter, and lowered again as the internal temperature rose.
Honeywell took the idea a step further and in 1906 unveiled the first programmable thermostat. The “Jewell” featured a built-in clock that allowed users to choose the times of day when their furnace would automatically heat the home to the pre-set temperature of their choice.
But sometimes, even great ideas are slow to catch on.
Despite substantial improvements over the last roughly 115 years, most people still aren’t programming their thermostats. According to the 2015 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, conducted by the federal Energy Information Administration, only 17 percent of heated homes actually program their thermostats to automatically adjust the temperature at a given time. In fact, fully 40 percent of those surveyed just set it to one temperature and leave it there all season long.
Consumers deserve a little credit, though. Many of us inherited our thermostats without the manuals when we moved into our homes, and many models can be difficult, if not impossible, to figure out how to program without instruction. Fortunately, the internet is a good source to search for lost instructions and the effort will pay off in energy savings over time.
“Heating and cooling make up close to half of the average home’s energy bill,” explained Matt Babbitts, Clark Public Utilities energy services project manager. “Programming your thermostat takes just a few minutes and can eliminate energy waste, produce significant savings in your home energy bill and maximize your personal comfort.”
If you’re not sure how to program yours, you can call one of the utility’s Energy Counselors of the Day at 360-992-3355 during business hours and they will walk you through the process.
To truly make the most of your home’s heating and cooling system, start fresh by investing in a smart thermostat.
The term “smart” can strike fear into the hearts of anyone who’s struggled to adapt to a new smartphone or other new electronic device, but smart thermostats are very simple.
Many are designed to be as easy to use as an old-fashioned thermostat. A turn of the knob will adjust the temperature. After a few weeks, the thermostat learns your habits and adjusts automatically based around your schedule and personal comfort. When connected to the internet, a smart thermostat can take local weather patterns into account when making adjustments, which will operate your system as efficiently as possible.
As an added benefit, you can connect your thermostat to your smartphone or tablet and control it from anywhere — the couch or across the country.
Once the thermostat catches on to the patterns and preferences in your household, the savings will begin. According to the Bonneville Power Administration, a smart thermostat will lower your energy bill by about $50 a year. Smart thermostat manufacturers claim higher savings, suggesting users can save between 10 and 12 percent on heating and up to 15 percent on cooling bills.
Clark Public Utilities customers with an electric furnace or heat pump may qualify for a $50 rebate from Clark Public Utilities for the installation of a qualified smart thermostat. Visit clarkpublicutilities.com to find out more.
If your home is heated with natural gas, you may qualify for a rebate through the Energy Trust. Visit their website, energytrust.org, to find out more.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
