Action - Programmable Thermostat
28% of members are reducing their footprint with this action!
Programmable thermostats can significantly reduce energy consumption by adjusting temperatures according to your schedule. Set the temperature higher in the summer, and lower in the winter, when nobody will be at home. Adjust the temperature during sleeping vs. waking hours.
The costs of this solution are simply the price range of the thermostat. The benefits are harder to calculate since it depends how the unit is used, giving the large range.
Known benefits and costs
| Annual CO2 Savings | 600 - 1,000 kg |
|---|---|
| 1,320 - 2,200 lbs | |
| Annual Cash Savings | $100 - $200 |
| Initial Cost | $40 - $150 |
| Time to pay for itself | 0.0 - 2.0 years |
| CO2 saved per year per initial dollar invested | 4.00 - 25.00 kg |
* These value ranges were taken from many sources including product documentation, published reports, and the reference material linked here.
Related Information
| Calculate my impact with this action | |
| Related links |
Recent Related Links
Links that were recently submitted related to this solution
The Breathtaking Effects Of Cutting Back On Meat
Great examples of how much impact we could make by cutting down on meat consumption only slightly.
When It Comes To Green, We Are Hypocrites
Eye-opening survey about what people think is important to do for sustainability versus what they are actually doing.
Becoming vegetarian will help save the planet: study
The most meat-loving nations would have healthier citizens and also would reduce carbon emissions, scientists said.
US Uses Less Water Now Than 35 Years Ago
Conservation and efficiency are attainable: a study shows the US uses less water than 35 years ago in spite of a 30% increase in population.
From Trees to T-issues: Raising Awareness on Our Beloved Trees
Collection of interesting stats on our use of trees and paper.
Vegetarianism as a Sometimes Thing
Interesting thoughts on reducing meat consumption to lower footprint
In Depth: Phantom Energy
Real measurements of the energy use of household appliances to track the biggest wasters.
Going Green--One Step at a Time - How To
A good step by step guide on reducing energy use in the house, with measured results.
Leaving PCs on overnight costs companies $2.8B a year
A recent study showed how much energy is wasted, and CO2 emitted, due to unused work computers at night.
Making the right choices to reduce water footprint
Great graphic showing the relative amount of water used by various actions and foods.

