EnergySmart Homes | Village of Hastings-on-Hudson NY – hastingsgov.org

Save money 

“You can save about 3% on your heating bill for each degree that you set back your thermostat full time,” says Bill Prindle, deputy director for the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

It is a common myth that it will take more heat to bring your home back up to the desired temperature after reducing the thermostat for only a few hours. You will generally use less energy overall by lowering thermostats when you are out, even when you warm up your house from a cooler temperature. (Exception: geothermal systems, which are best kept set to a constant temperature.)

Improve health

• Your houseplants are healthier in cooler air.
• Colder temperatures can help reduce allergies and inflammation, and can be good for your skin’s health
• Your body will burn more calories keeping you warm, thereby helping you to lose weight and improve your general well-being. 

Help mitigate climate change

Household energy is one of the major contributors to our carbon footprint. Together, home heating and cooling is responsible for roughly 441 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. In many cases, lowering your home’s greenhouse gas emissions is the most meaningful step you can take to combatting climate change. 

What you can do

• Keep your home cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer. Use a timer for your thermostat (or adjust it manually) so that you are not heating or cooling the house while it is empty or while you are sleeping. (Exception: geothermal systems.)
• Try turning down the thermostat 5 to 10 degrees at night, and then turn it up again in the morning when the coffee is brewing. If you can get used to that, you’ll save 5 to 10 percent of your heating bill. Install programmable thermostats to make this easy. (Exception: geothermal systems.)
• Planning a party? Turn the thermostat down. Each guest radiates the equivalent of a 175-watt heater, and a large group will warm up the place without the furnace or the heating units in operation.
• Sign up for a home energy audit.