The Programmable Thermostat

  Simply put, a programmable thermostat is a device that controls the temperature at home so that energy could be conserved   It will serve for both heating and cooling seasons.

    A programmable thermostat is a very simple device that’s easy to install and when properly configured, it could mean significant savings for homes and businesses. You may only have to hook up 3 wires! Everything is colored coded, from the new thermostat to your old one. 

   Without the programmable thermostat, you could be leaving your home while the air-conditioning system is on. Some folks do this, I am guilty,  to ensure that their homes would stay cool as soon as they arrive. But this could be very costly since no one is really there to enjoy the running air conditioning system.

   Granted that you only work in one shift, you are practically letting your air-conditioning system run for an extra eight hours – which means additional payment for your electric bill. With the help of programmable thermostat, you can set your air-conditioning unit to switch off after five minutes you leave and automatically switch on 30 minute before you arrive so that you house would be cool once arrive there.

   Programmable thermostat will not only make your life comfortable but also help you save on energy.

Types of Programmable Thermostat:

There are five types of programmable thermostats, each with their advantage and disadvantages.

1. Electromechanical Thermostat – if you have a regular schedule, this type of programmable thermostat is perfect for you. Electromechanical or EM usually comes as manually operated type of thermostat. You’ll be able adjust how many hours will the air-conditioning and heating unit to stay on and control the temperature from there. This type of thermostat however is not applicable to heat pumps.
2. Digital Thermostat – if you would like to leave and enter a house with a perfect temperature, this type of thermostat could be for you. Digital thermostats could be scheduled along with their corresponding temperature. This is highly flexible and could get really complicated in the process of customization. Just make sure your schedule coincides with the digital thermostat or else it just defeats the purpose of this type of thermostat.
3. Hybrid Thermostat – the combination of EM and Digital thermostat, this type of thermostat offers the simplicity of the EM thermostat while offering the level of customization from the digital thermostat.
4. Occupancy Thermostat – if you think EM thermostat is the simplest type of thermostat then you’ve never seen an occupancy thermostat yet. Occupancy thermostat is used in structures that are rarely occupied but needs a controlled environment. Occupancy thermostat has usually one button which automatically activates the preferred level of temperature for a determined period of time. After the set time, the normal temperature will go back to its original setting.
5. Light Sensing Thermostat – this is probably the most complicated as well as the most expensive type of thermostat. This type of thermostat reacts to the lighting conditions of the area. Common light sensing thermostats never require any batteries and their settings is usually kept even when there is power failure.